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The Fairy Book 

7 


THE BEST POPULAR FAIRY STORIES SELECTED 
AND RENDERED ANEW 


BY THE AUTHOR OF 

“JOHN HALIFAX GENTLEMAN” 

i/ 




UOSTON : icx) Purchase Street 




V « ? f 


12874 

Copyright, 1S98 
By Thomas Y. Crowell & Co. 



10 

3 


TWO COPIES RtCEIVED. 




189d 


©etjfcateti 


TO 


LITTLE OLIVE 


I 


PEEFACE. 



PEEFACE is usually an excrescence on a 
good book, and a vain apology for a 
worthless one ; but in the present instance 
a few explanatory words seem necessary. 
This is meant to be the best collection attainable of 
that delight of all children, and of many grown people 
who retain the child-heart still, — the old-fashioned, 
time-honored classic fairy-tale. It has been compiled 
from all sources — far-off and familiar ; when familiar, 
the stories have been traced with care to their original 
form, which, if foreign, has been re-translated, con- 
densed, and in any other needful way made suitable for 
modern British children. Perrault, Madame d Aulnois, 
and Grimm have thus been laid under contribution. 
Where it was not possible to get at the original of a 
tale, its various versions have been collated, compared, 
and. combined ; and in some instances, where this still 
proved unsatisfactory, the whole story has been writ- 
ten afresh. The few real old English fairy tales, 
such as Jack the Giant Killer,’^ Tom Thumb,” 
etc., whose authorship is lost in obscurity, but whose 
charming Saxon simplicity of style and intense 
realism of narration make for them an ever green 


6 


PREFACE. 


immortality, — these have been left intact ; for no later 
touch would improve them. All modern stories have 
been excluded. 

Of course, in fairy tales instruction is not expected ; 
we find there only the rude moral of virtue rewarded 
and vice punished. But children will soon discover 
for themselves that in real life all beautiful people 
are not good, nor all ugly ones wicked ; that every 
elder sister is not ungenerous, nor every stepmother 
cruel. The tender young heart is often reached as 
soon by the imagination as by the intellect ; and with- 
out attempting any direct appeal to either reason or 
conscience, the Editor of this collection has been 
especially careful that it should contain nothing 
Avhich could really harm a child. 

She therefore trusts that, whatever its defects, this 
Fairy Book will not deserve a criticism, almost the 
sharpest that can be given to any work, — ‘‘ that it 
would have been better if the author had taken more 
pains.” 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood 9 

Hop-o’-my-Thumb 16 

Cinderella; or, the Little Glass Slipper .... 27 

Adventures of John Dietrich 35 

Beauty and the Beast 54 

Little One Eye, Little T^vo Eyes, and Little 

Three Eyes 70 

Jack the Giant-killer 78 

Tom Thumb 94 

Rumpelstilzchen 102 

Fortunatus 105 

The Bremen Town Musicians 117 

Riquet with the Tuft 121 

House Island 126 

Snow-white and Rose-red 137 

Jack and the Bean-stalk 144 

Graciosa and Percinet 155 

The Iron Stove 168 

The Invisible Prince 175 

The Woodcutter’s Daughter 205 

Brother and Sister 227 

Little Red Riding-hood 234 

Puss in Boots 236 

The Wolf and the Seven Young Goslings .... 243 


8 


CONTENTS 


The Fair One with Golden Locks 240 

The Butterfly 258 

The Frog-prince 275 

The White Cat • . 280 

Prince Cherry 290 

Little Snowdrop 306 

The Blue Bird 316 

The Yellow Dwarf 335 

The Six Swans . . . ^ 341 

The Prince with the Nose 347 

The Hind of the Forest 355 

The Juniper-tree 374 

Clever Alice 385 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD. 

CE there was a royal couple who grieved 
excessively because they had no chil- 
dren. When at last, after long wait- 
ing, the queen presented her husband 
with a little daughter, his majesty 
y by giving a christening feast so grand 
that the like of it was never known. He invited all 
the fairies in the land — there were seven altogether 
— to stand godmothers to the little princess ; hoping 
that each might bestow on her some good gift, as was 
the custom of good fairies in those days. 

After the ceremony all the guests returned to the 
palace, where there was set before each fairy god- 
mother a magnificent covered dish, with an embroid- 
ered table-napkin, and a knife and fork of pure gold, 
studded with diamonds and rubies. But alas ! as 
they placed themselves at table, there entered an old 
fairy who had never been invited, because more than 
fifty years since she had left the king’s dominion on 
a tour of pleasure, and had not been heard of until 
this day. His majesty, much troubled, desired a 
cover to be placed for her, but it was of common delf, 
for he had ordered from his jeweller only seven 
gold dishes for the seven fairies aforesaid. ' The 
elderly fairy thought herself neglected, and muttered 
angry menaces, which were overheard by one of the 
younger fairies, who chanced to sit beside her. This 



showed his 



10 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 

good godmother, afraid of harm to the pretty baby, 
hastened to hide herself behind the tapestry in the 
hall. She did this because she wished all the others 
to speak first — so that if any ill gift were bestowed 
on the child, she might be able to counteract it. 

The six now offered their good wishes — which, 
unlike most wishes, were sure to come true. The 
fortunate little princess was to grow up the fairest 
woman in the world ; to have a temper sweet as an 
angel ; to be perfectly graceful and gracious ; to sing 
like a nightingale ; to dance like a leaf on a tree ; and 
to possess every accomplishment under the sun. 
Then the old fairy’s turn came. Shaking her head 
spitefully, she uttered the wish that when the baby 
grew up into a young lady, and learned to spin, she 
might prick her finger with the spindle and die of the 
wound. 

At this terrible prophecy all the guests shuddered ; 
and some of the more tender-hearted began to weep. 
The lately happy parents were almost out of their 
wits with grief. Upon which the wise young fairy 
appeared from behind the tapestry, saying cheerfully. 
Your majesties may comfort yourselves ; the prin- 
cess shall not die. I have no power to alter the ill- 
fortune just wished her by my ancient sister — her 
finger must be pierced ; and she shall then sink, not 
into the sleep of death, but into a sleep that will last 
a hundred years. After that time is ended, the son 
of a king will find her, awaken her, and marry her.” 

Immediately all the fairies vanished. 

The king, in the hope of avoiding his daughter’s 
doom, issued an edict, forbidding all persons to spin, 
and even to have spinning-wheels in their houses, on 
pain of instant death. But it was in vain. One day, 
when she was just fifteen years of age, the king and 
queen left their daughter alone in one of their castles, 


THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD. 11 


when, wandering about at her will, she came to an 
ancient donjon tower, climbed to the top of it, and 
there found a very old woman — so old and deaf that 
she had never heard of the king’s edict — busy with 
her wheel. 

What are you doing, good old woman ? ” said the 
princess. 

I ’m spinning, my pretty child.” 

Ah, how charming ! Let me try if I can spin also.” 

She had no sooner taken up the spindle than, being 
lively and obstinate, she handled it so awkwardly and 
carelessly that the point pierced her finger. Though 
it was so small a wound, she fainted away at once, 
and dropped silently down on the floor. The poor 
frightened old woman called for help ; shortly came 
the ladies in waiting, who tried every means to re- 
store their young mistress, but all their care was use- 
less. She lay, beautiful as an angel, the color still 
lingering in her lips and cheeks ; her fair bosom 
softly stirred with her breath ; only her eyes were 
fast closed. When the king her father and the queen 
her mother beheld her thus, they knew regret was 
idle — all had happened as the cruel fairy meant. 
But they also knew that their daughter would not 
sleep forever, though after one hundred years it was 
not likely they would either of them behold her awak- 
ening. Until that happy hour should arrive, they 
determined to leave her in repose. They sent away 
all the physicians and attendants, and themselves sor- 
rowfully laid her upon a bed of embroidery, in the 
most elegant apartment of the palace. There she 
slept and looked like a sleeping angel still. 

When this misfortune happened, the kindly young 
fairy who had saved the princess by changing her 
sleep of death into this sleep of a hundred years was 
twelve thousand leagues away in the kingdom of 


12 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Mataquin. But being informed of everything, she 
arrived speedily, in a chariot of fire drawn by drag- 
ons. The king was somewhat startled by the sight, 
but nevertheless went to the door of his palace, and, 
with a mournful countenance, presented her his hand 
to descend. 

The fairy condoled with his majesty, and approved 
of all he had done. Then, being a fairy of great 
common-sense and foresight, she suggested that the 
princess, awakening after a hundred years in this 
ancient castle, might be a good deal embarrassed, 
especially with a young prince by her side, to find 
herself alone. Accordingly, without asking any one’s 
leave, she touched with her magic wand the entire 
population of the palace — except the king and 
queen; governesses, ladies of honor, waiting-maids, 
gentlemen ushers, cooks, kitchen girls, pages, footmen, 
down to the horses that were in the stables and the 
grooms that attended them, — she touched each and 
all. Nay, with kind consideration for the feelings of 
the princess, she even touched the little fat lap-dog. 
Puffy, who had laid himself down beside his mistress 
on her splendid bed. He, like all the rest, fell fast 
asleep in a moment. The very spits that were before 
the kitchen fire ceased turning, and the fire itself 
went out, and everything became as silent as if it 
were the middle of the night, or as if the palace were 
a palace of the dead. 

The king and queen — having kissed their daughter 
and wept over her a little, but not much, she looked 
so sweet and content — departed from the castle, 
giving orders that it was to be approached no more. 
The command was unnecessary ; for in one quarter of 
an hour there sprung up around it a wood so thick 
and thorny that neither beasts nor men could attempt 
to penetrate there. Above this dense mass of forest 


THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD. 13 

could only be perceived the top of the high tower 
where the lovely princess slept. 

A great many changes happen in a hundred years. 
The king, who never had a second child, died, and his 
throne passed into another royal family. So entirely 
was the story of the poor princess forgotten that 
when the reigning king’s son, being one day out hunt- 
ing and stopped in the chase by this formidable wood, 
inquired what wood it was and what were those tow- 
ers which he saw appearing out of the midst of it, no 
one could answer him. At length an old peasant was 
found who remembered having heard his grandfather 
say to his father that in this tower was a princess, 
beautiful as the day, who was doomed to sleep there 
for one hundred years, until awakened by a king’s 
son, her destined bridegroom. 

At this the young prince, who had the spirit of a 
hero, determined to find out the truth for himself. 
Spurred on by both generosity and curiosity, he leaped 
from his horse and began to force his way through the 
thick wood. To his amazement the stiff branches all 
gave way, and the ugly thorns sheathed themselves of 
their own accord, and the brambles buried themselves 
in the earth to let him pass. This done, they closed 
behind him, allowing none of his suite to follow ; but, 
ardent and young, he went boldly on alone. 

The first thing he saw was enough to smite him with 
fear. Bodies of men and horses lay extended on the 
ground ; but the men had faces, not death- white, but 
red as peonies, and beside them were glasses half filled 
with wine, showing that they had gone to sleep drink- 
ing. Next he entered a large court, paved with marble, 
where stood rows of guards presenting arms, but 
motionless as if cut out of stone; then he passed 
through many chambers where gentlemen and ladies, 
all in the costume of the past century, slept at their 


14 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


ease, some standing, some sitting. The pages were 
lurking in corners, the ladies of honor were stooping 
over their embroidery frames or listening apparently 
with polite attention to the gentlemen of the court, 
but all were as silent as statues and as immovable. 
Their clothes, strange to say, were fresh and new as 
ever ; and not a particle of dust or spider-web had 
gathered over the furniture, though it had not known 
a broom for a hundred years. Finally the astonished 
prince came to an inner chamber, where was the fair- 
est sight his eyes had ever beheld. 

A young girl of wonderful beauty lay asleep on an 
embroidered bed, and she looked as if she had only 
just closed her eyes. Trembling, the prince approached 
and knelt beside her. Some say he kissed her, but as 
nobody saw it and she never told, we cannot be quite 
sure of the fact. However, as the end of the enchant- 
ment had come, the princess awakened at once, and 
looking at him with eyes of the tenderest regard, said 
drowsily, Is it you, my prince ? I have waited for 
you very long.’’ 

Charmed with these words, and still more with the 
tone in which they were uttered, the prince assured 
her that he loved her more than his life. Neverthe- 
less, he was the more embarrassed of the two; for, 
thanks to the kind fairy, the princess had plenty of 
time to dream of him during her century of slumber, 
while he had never even heard of her till an hour 
before. For a long time did they sit conversing, and 
yet had not said half enough. Their only interruption 
was the little dog Puffy, who had awakened with his 
mistress, and now began to be exceedingly jealous that 
the princess did not notice him as much as she was 
wont to do. 

Meantime all the attendants, whose enchantment 
was also broken, not being in love, were ready to die 


THE SLEEPING BEAUTY IN THE WOOD. 15 

of hunger after their fast of a hundred years. A lady 
of honor ventured to intimate that dinner was served ; 
whereupon the prince handed his beloved princess at 
once to the great hall. She did not wait to dress for 
dinner, being already perfectly and magnificently 
attired, though in a fashion somewhat out of date. 
However, her lover had the politeness not to notice 
this, nor to remind her that she was dressed exactly 
like her royal grandmother, whose portrait still hung 
on the palace walls. 

During the banquet a concert took place by the 
attendant musicians, and considering they had not 
touched their instruments for a century, they played 
extremely well. They ended witH a wedding march : 
for that very evening the marriage of the prince and 
princess was celebrated, and though the bride was 
nearly one hundred years older than the bridegroom, 
it is remarkable that the fact would never have been 
discovered by any one unacquainted therewith. 

After a few days they went together out of the castle 
and enchanted wood, both of which immediately van- 
ished, and were never more beheld by mortal eyes. 
The princess was restored to her ancestral kingdom, 
but it was not generally declared who she was, as 
during a hundred years people had grown so very 
much cleverer that nobody then living would ever 
have believed the story. So nothing was explained, 
and nobody presumed to ask any questions about her, 
for ought not a prince to be able to marry whomsoever 
he pleases ? 

Nor — whether or not the day of fairies was over — 
did the princess ever see anything further of her seven 
godmothers. She lived a long and happy life, like any 
other ordinary woman, and died at length, beloved, 
regretted, but, the prince being already no more, 
perfectly contented. 


16 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


HOP-O’-MY-THUMB. 

There once lived in a village a faggot-maker and 
his wife, who had seven children, all boys ; the eldest 
was no more than ten years old, and the youngest was 
only seven. It was odd enough, to be sure, that they 
should have so many children in such a short time ; but 
the truth is, the wife always brought him two and once 
three at a time. This made him very poor, for not one 
of these boys was old enough to get a living ; and what 
was still worse, the youngest was a puny little fellow 
who hardly ever spoke a word. Now this, indeed, was 
a mark of his good sense, but it made his father and 
mother suppose him to be silly, and they thought that 
at last he would turn out quite a fool. This boy was 
the least size ever seen ; for when he was born he was 
no bigger than a man^s thumb, which made him be 
christened by the name of Hop-o’-my-Thumb. The 
poor child was the drudge of the whole house, and 
always bore the blame of everything that was done' 
wrong. For all this, Hop-o^-my-Thumb was far more 
clever than any of his brothers ; and though he spoke 
but little, he heard and knew more than people thought. 
It happened just at this time that for want of rain the 
fields had grown but half as much corn and potatoes 
as they used to grow ; so that the faggot-maker and his 
wife could not give the boys the food they had before, 
which was always either bread or potatoes. 

After the father and mother had grieved some time, 
they thought that as they could contrive no other way 
to live, they must somehow get rid of their children. 
One night when the boys were gone to bed, and the 
faggot-maker and his wife were sitting over a few 
lighted sticks to warm themselves, the husband sighed 
deeply and said, You see, my dear, we cannot main- 


HOP-O’-IVIY-TH UMB . 


17 


tain our children any longer, and to see them die of 
hunger before my eyes is what I could never bear. I 
will, therefore, to-morrow morning take them to the 
forest and leave them in the thickest part of it, so that 
they will not be able to find their way back ; this will 
be very easy, for while they amuse themselves with 
tying up the faggots, we need only slip away when 
they are looking some other way.” 

Ah ! husband,” cried the poor wife, you cannot, 
no, you never can consent to be the death of your own 
children ! ” 

The husband in vain told her to think how very poor 
they were. 

The wife replied that this was true, to be sure ; 
but if she was poor, she was still their mother ; ” and 
then she cried as if her heart would break. At last 
she thought how shocking it would be to see them 
starved to death before their eyes ; so she agreed to 
what her husband had said, and then went sobbing to 
bed. 

Hop-o’-my-Thumb had been awake all the time ; and 
when he heard his father talk very seriously, he 
slipped away from his brothers’ side, and crept under 
his father’s bed, to hear all that was said without 
being seen. 

When his father and mother had left off talking he 
got back to his own place, and passed the night in 
thinking what he should do the next morning. 

He rose early and ran to the river’s side, where he 
filled his pockets with small white pebbles, and then 
went back home. In the morning they all set out, as 
their father and mother had agreed on ; and Hop-o’-my- 
Thumb did not say a word to any of his brothers about 
what he had heard. They came to a forest that was 
so very thick that they could not see each other a few 
yards off. The faggot-maker set to work cutting down 


18 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


wood ; and the children began to gather the twigs, to 
make faggots of them. 

When the father and mother saw that the young 
ones were all very busy, they slipped away without 
being seen. The children soon found themselves 
alone, and began to cry as loud as they could. Hop- 
o’-my -Thumb let them cry on, for he knew well enough 
how to lead them safe home, as he had taken care to 
drop the white pebbles he had in his pocket along all 
the way he had come. He only said to them, Never 
mind it, my lads ; father and mother have left us here 
by ourselves, but only take care to follow me, and I 
will lead you back again.’’ 

When they heard this they left off crying, and fol- 
lowed Hop-o’-my-Thumb, who soon brought them to 
their father’s house by the very same path which they 
had come along. At first they had not the courage to 
go in, but stood at the door to hear what their parents 
were talking about. Just as the faggot-maker and his 
wife had come home without their children, a great 
gentleman of the village sent to pay them two guineas, 
for work they had done for him, which he had owed 
them so long that they never thought of getting a 
farthing of it. This money made them quite happy ; 
for the poor creatures were very hungry, and had no 
other way of getting anything to eat. 

The faggot-maker sent his wife out immediately to 
buy some meat ; and as it was a long time since she 
had made a hearty meal, she bought as much meat as 
would have been enough for six or eight persons. The 
truth was, when she was thinking what would be 
enough for dinner, she forgot that her children were 
not at home ; but as soon as she and her husband had 
done eating, she cried out, ‘‘ Alas ! where are our poor 
children ? How they would feast on what we have 
left ! It was all your fault, husband ! I told you we 


hop-o’-my-thumb. 


19 


should repent leaving them to starve in the forest ! — 
Oh, mercy ! perhaps they have already been eaten by 
the hungry wolves ! The poor woman shed plenty 
of tears : Alas ! alas ! ” said she, over and over 
again, what is become of my dear children ? ” 

The children, who were all at the door, cried out 
together, Here we are, mother, here we are ! ” 

She flew like lightning to let them in, and kissed 
every one of them. 

The faggot-maker and his wife were charmed at 
having their children once more with them, and their 
joy for this lasted till their money was all spent ; but 
then they found themselves quite as ill off as before. 
So by degrees they again thought of leaving them in 
the forest ; and that the young ones might not come 
back a second time, they said they would take them a 
great deal farther than they did at first. They could 
not talk about this matter so slyly but that Hop-o’- 
my-Thumb found means to hear all that passed be- 
tween them ; but he cared very little about it, for he 
thought it would be easy for him to do just the same 
as he had done before. But though he got up very 
early the next morning to go to the river’s side to get 
the pebbles, a thing which he had not thought of 
hindered him ; for he found that the house door was 
double-locked. Hop-o’-my-Thumb was now quite at a 
loss what to do ; but soon after this his mother gave 
each of the children a piece of bread for breakfast, 
and then it came into his head that he could make 
his share do as well as the pebbles, by dropping 
crumbs of it all the way as he went. So he did not 
eat his piece, but put it into his pocket. 

It was not long before they all set out, and their 
parents took care to lead them into the very thickest 
and darkest part of the forest. They then slipped 
away by a by-path as before, and left the children by 


20 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


themselves again. All this did not give Hop-o’-my- 
Thumb any concern, for he thought himself quite sure 
of getting back by means of the crumbs that he had 
dropped by the way ; but when he came to look for 
them he found that not a crumb was left, for the 
birds had eaten them all up. 

The poor children were now sadly off, for the 
further they went the harder it was for them to get 
out of the forest. At last night came on, and the 
wind among the trees seemed to them like the howl- 
ing of wolves, so that every moment they thought 
they should be eaten up. They hardly dared to 
speak a word, or to move a limb, for fear. Soon after 
there came a heavy rain, which wetted them to the 
very skin, and made the ground so slippery that they 
fell down almost at every step, and got dirty all over. 

Before it was quite dark, Hop-o’-my-Thumb climbed 
up to the top of a tree, and looked round on all sides 
to see if he could find any way of getting help. He 
saw a small light, like that of a candle, but it was a 
very great way off, and beyond the forest. He then 
came down from the tree, to try to find the way to it ; 
but he could not see it when he was on the ground, 
and he was in the utmost trouble what to do next. 
They walked on towards the place where he had seen 
the light, and at last reached the end of the forest, 
and got sight of it again. They now walked faster ; 
and after being much tired and vexed (for every time 
they got into lower ground they lost sight of the 
light) came to the house it was in. They knocked at 
the door, which was opened by a very good-natured- 
looking lady, who asked what brought them there. 
Hop-o’-my-Thumb told her that they were poor chil- 
dren who had lost their way in the forest, and begged 
that she would give them a bed till morning. When 
the lady saw that they had such pretty faces, she 


HOP-O’-MY-THUI^IB . 


21 


began to shed tears, and said, Ah ! my poor children, 
you do not know what place you are come to. This 
is the house of an Ogre, who eats up little boys and 
girls.” 

Alas ! madam,” replied Hop-o’-my-Thumb, who 
trembled from head to foot, what shall we do ? If 
we go back to the forest, we are sure of being torn 
to pieces by the wolves ; we would rather, therefore, 
be eaten by the gentleman. Besides, when he sees 
us, perhaps he may take pity on us and spare our 
lives.” 

The Ogre’s wife thought she could contrive to hide 
them from her husband till morning ; so she let them 
go' in and warm themselves by a good fire, before 
which there was a who^e sheep roasting for the Ogre’s 
supper. When they had stood a short time by the 
fire, there came a loud knocking at the door : this was 
the Ogre come home. His wife hurried the children 
under the bed, and told them to lie still, and she then 
let her husband in. 

The Ogre asked if supper were ready, and if the 
wine were fetched from the cellar ; and then he sat 
down at the table.. The sheep was not quite done, 
but he liked it much better half raw. In a minute or 
two the Ogre began to snuff to his right and left, and 
said he smelt child’s flesh. 

“ It must be this calf which has just been killed,” 
said his wife. 

I smell child’s .flesh, I tell thee once more,” cried 
the Ogre, looking all about the room ; I smell child’s 
flesh ; there is something going on that I do not know 
of.” 

As soon as he had spoken these words, he rose from 
his chair and went towards the bed. . 

“ Ah ! madam,” said he, you thought to cheat 
me did you ? Wretch ! thou art old and tough thy- 


22 THE FAIRY BOOIt. 

self, or else I would eat thee up too. But come, 
come, this is lucky enough ; for the brats will make 
a nice dish for three Ogres, who are my particular 
friends, and who are to dine with me to-morrow ! ” 

He then drew them out one by one from under the 
bed. The poor children fell on their knees and 
begged his pardon as humbly as they could ; but this 
Ogre was the most cruel of all Ogres, and instead of 
feeling any pity, he only began to think how sweet 
and tender their flesh would be ; so he told his wife 
they would be nice morsels, if she served them up 
with plenty of sauce. He then fetched a large knife, 
and began to sharpen it on a long whetstone that he 
held in his left hand ; and all the while he came 
nearer and nearer to the bed. .The Ogre took up one 
of the children, and was going to set about cutting 
him to pieces ; but his wife said to him, ‘‘ What in 
the world makes you take the trouble of killing them 
to-night? Will it not be time enough to-morrow 
morning ? ” 

Hold your prating,’’ replied the Ogre ; ‘‘ they will 
grow tender by being kept a little while after they 
are killed.” 

But,” said his wife, ‘‘ you have got so much meat 
in the house already ; here is a calf, two sheep, and a 
half a pig.” 

‘‘ True,” said the Ogre, “ so give them all a good 
supper, that they may not get lean, and then send 
them to bed.” 

The good creature was quite glad at this. She gave 
them plenty for their supper, but the poor children 
were so terrified that they could not eat a bit. 

The Ogre sat down to his wine, very much pleased 
with the thought of giving his friends such a dainty 
dish ; this made him drink rather more than common, 
and he was soon obliged to go to bed himself. Now 


hop-o’-my-thumb. 


23 


the Ogre had seven daughters, who were all very 
young, like Hop-o’-my-Thiimb and his brothers. These 
young Ogresses had fair skins, because they fed on 
raw meat like their father ; but they had small gray 
eyes, quite round and sunk in their heads, hooked 
noses, wide mouths, and very long sharp teeth stand- 
ing a great way off each other. They were too young 
as yet to do much mischief ; but they showed that if 
they lived to be as old as their father, they would 
grow quite as cruel as he was, for they took pleasure 
already in biting young children, and sucking their 
blood. The Ogresses had been put to bed very early 
that night ; they were all in one bed, which was very 
large, and every one of them had a crown of gold on 
her head. There was another bed of the same size in 
the room, and in this the Ogre’s wife put the seven 
little boys, and then went to bed herself along with 
her husband. 

^^■ow Hop-o’-my-Thumb was afraid that the Ogre 
would wake in the night and kill him and his 
brothers while they were asleep. So he got out of 
bed in the middle of the night as softly as he could, 
took off all his brothers’ nightcaps and his own, and 
crept with them to the bed that the Ogre’s daughters 
were in ; he then took off their crowns, and put the 
nightcaps on their heads instead; next he put the 
crowns on his brothers’ heads and his own, and got 
into bed again ; expecting, after this, that, if the Ogre 
should come, he would take him and his brothers for 
his own children. Everything turned out as he 
wished. The Ogre waked soon after midnight, and 
began to be very sorry that he had put off killing the 
boys till the morning ; so he jumped out of bed, and 
took hold of his large knife. “ Let me see,” said he, 
what the young rogues are about, and do the busi- 
ness at once.” He then walked softly to the room 


24 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


where they all slept, and went up to the bed the boys 
were in, who were all asleep except Hop-o’-niy-Thiimb. 
He touched their heads one at a time, and feeling the 
crowns of gold, said to himself, “ Oh, oh ! I had like 
to have made such a mistake. I must have drunk 
too much wine last night.’’ 

He went next to the bed that his own little Ogresses 
were in, and when he felt the nightcaps he said, 

Ah ! here you are, my lads,” and so in a moment 
he cut the throats of all his daughters. 

He was very much pleased when he had done this, 
and then went back to his own bed. As soon as Hop- 
o’-my-Thumb heard him snore he awoke his brothers, 
and told them to put on their clothes quickly 
and follow him. They stole down softly into the 
garden, and then jumped from the wall into the road; 
they ran as fast as their legs could carry them, but 
were so much afraid all the while that they hardly 
knew which way to take. When the Ogre waked in 
the morning he said to his wife, grinning, My dear, 
go and dress the young rogues I saw last night.” 

The wife was quite surprised at hearing her hus- 
band speak so kindly, and did not dream of the real 
meaning of his words. She supposed he wanted her 
to help them to put on their clothes ; so she went 
upstairs, and the first thing she saw was her seven 
daughters with their throats cut, and all over blood. 
This threw her into a fainting fit. The Ogre was 
afraid his wife might be too long in doing what he 
had set her about, so he went himself to help her ; 
but he was as much shocked as she had been at the 
dreadful sight of his bleeding children. ‘‘ Ah ! what 
have I done ? ” he cried; ^^but the littl-e rascals shall 
pay for it, I warrant them.” 

He first threw some water on his wife’s face ; and, 
as soon as she came to herself, he said to her : Bring 



“Hop-o’-my-thumb put thk Ogre’s Seven-league Boots on 

HIS OWN Legs.’’ 




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hop-o’-my-thumb. 


25 


me quickly my seven-league boots, that I may go and 
catch the little vipers.” 

The Ogre then put on these boots and set out with 
all speed. He strided over many parts of the country, 
and at last turned into the very road in which the 
poor children were. For they had set off towards the 
faggot-maker’s Cottage, which they had almost reached. 
They watched the Ogre stepping from mountain to 
mountain at one step, and crossing rivers as if they 
had been tiny brooks. At this Hop-o’-my-Thumb 
thought a little what was to be done ; and spying a 
hollow place under a large rock, he made his brothers 
get into it. He then crept in himself, but kept his 
eye fixed on the Ogre, to see what he would do next. 

The Ogre found himself quite weary with the 
journey he had gone, for seven-league boots are very 
tiresome to the person who wears them ; so he now 
began to think of resting, and happened to sit down 
on the very rock where the poor children were hid. 
As he was so tired and it was a very hot day, he fell 
fast asleep, and soon began to snore so loud that the 
little fellows were terrified. 

When Hop-o’-my-Thumb saw this he said to his 
brothers, Courage, my lads ! Never fear ! You have 
nothing to do but to steal away and get home while the 
Ogre is fast asleep, and leave me to shift for myself.” 

The brothers now were very glad to do whatever 
he told them, and so they soon came to their father’s 
house. In the meantime Hop-o’-my-Thumb went up 
to the Ogre softly, pulled off his seven-league boots 
very gently, and put them on his own legs ; for 
though the boots were very large, yet being fairy 
boots they could make themselves small enough to fit 
any leg they pleased. 

As soon as ever Hop-o’-my-Thumb had made sure of 
the Ogre’s seven-league boots, he went at once to the 


26 


THE FAIRY BOOlC. 


palace and offered Ins services to carry orders from 
the king to his army, which was a great way off, and 
to bring back the quickest accounts of the battle they 
were just at that time fighting with the enemy. In 
short, he thought he could be of more use to the king 
than all his mail-coaches, and so should make his 
fortune in this manner. He succeeded so well that 
in a short time he made money enough to keep him- 
self, his father, mother, and six brothers, without the 
trouble of working, for the rest of their lives. Hav- 
ing done this, he went back to his father’s cottage, 
where all the family were delighted to see him again. 
As the great fame of his boots had been talked of at 
court in this time, the king sent for him, and indeed 
employed him very often in the greatest affairs of the 
state, so that he became one of the richest men in the 
kingdom. 

And now let us see what became of the wicked 
Ogre. He slept so soundly that he never discovered 
the loss of his boots ; but having an evil conscience 
and bad dreams, he fell in his sleep from the corner 
of the rock where Hop-o’-my-Thumb and his brothers 
had left him, and bruised himself so much from head 
to foot that he could not stir ; so he was forced to 
stretch himself out at full length and wait for some 
one to come and help him. 

How a good many faggot-makers passed near the 
place where the Ogre lay ; and when they heard him 
groan they went up to ask him what was the matter. 
But the Ogre had eaten such a great number of chil- 
dren in his lifetime that he had grown so very big 
and fat that these men could not even have carried 
one of his legs ; so they were forced to leave him 
there. At last night came on, and then a large ser- 
pent came out of a wood just by, and stung him, so 
that he died in great pain. 


CINDERELLA. 


By and by Hop-o’-my-Thumb, who had become the 
king’s first favorite, heard of the Ogre’s death ; and the 
first thing he did was to tell his majesty all that 
the good-natuj*ed Ogress had done to save the lives of 
himself and brothers. The king was so much pleased 
at what he heard that he asked Hop-o’-my-Thumb if 
there was any favor he could bestow upon her. 
Hop-o’-my-Thumb thanked the king, and desired that 
the Ogress might have the noble title of Duchess of 
Draggletail given to her, which was no sooner asked 
than granted. The Ogress then came to court and 
lived very happily for many years, enjoying the vast 
fortune she had found in the Ogre’s chests. As for 
Hop-o’-my-Thumb, he every day grew more witty and 
brave ; till at last the king made him the greatest lord 
in the kingdom, and set him over all his affairs. 


CIKDEBELLA, OR THE LITTLE GLASS 
SLIPPER. 

There was once an honest gentleman who took for 
his second wife a lady, the proudest and most disagree- 
able in the whole country. She had two daughters 
exactly like herself in all things. He also had one 
little girl, who resembled her dead mother, the best 
woman in all the world. Scarcely had the second mar- 
riage taken place than the stepmother became jealous 
of the good qualities of the little girl, who was so great 
a contrast to her own two daughters. She gave her all 
the menial occupations of the house ; compelled her to 
wash the floors and staircases, to dust the bedrooms 
and clean the grates ; and while her sisters occupied 
carpeted chambers hung with mirrors, where they could 
see themselves from head to foot, this poor little 


28 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


damsel was sent to sleep in an attic, on an old straw 
mattress, with only one chair, and not a looking-glass 
in the room. 

She suffered all in silence, not daring to complain to 
her father, who was entirely ruled by his new wife. 
When her daily work was done, she used to sit down 
in the chimney-corner among the ashes ; from which 
the two sisters gave her the nickname of Cinderella. 
But Cinderella, however shabbily clad, was handsomer 
than they were with all their fine clothes. 

It happened that the king’s son gave a series of balls, 
to which were invited all the rank and fashion of the 
city, and among the rest the two elder sisters. They 
were very proud and happy, and occupied their whole 
time in deciding what they should wear — a source of 
new trouble to Cinderella, whose duty it was to get up 
their fine linen and laces, and who never could please 
them, however much she tried. They talked of noth- 
ing but their clothes. 

I,” said the elder, shall wear my velvet gown and 
my trimmings of English lace.” 

“ And I,” added the younger, will have but my or- 
dinary silk petticoat, but I shall adorn it with an upper 
skirt of flowered brocade, and shall put on my dia- 
mond tiara, which is a great deal finer than anything 
of yours.” 

Here the elder sister grew angry, and the dispute 
began to run so high that Cinderella, who was known 
to have excellent taste, was called upon to decide be- 
tween them. She gave them the best advice she could, 
and gently and submissively offered to dress them her- 
self, and especially to arrange their hair, an accom- 
plishment in which she excelled many a noted coiffeur. 
The important evening came, and she exercised all her 
skill to adorn the two young ladies. While she was 
combing out the elder’s hair, this ill-natured girl said 


CINDERELLA. 29 

sharply, ‘‘ Cinderella, do you not wish you were going 
to the ball ? 

Ah, madam ” (they obliged her always to say mad- 
am), you are only mocking me ; it is not my fortune 
to have any such pleasure.’’ 

‘‘ You are right ; people would only laugh to see a 
little cinder-wench at a ball.” 

Any other than Cinderella would have dressed the 
hair all awry ; but she was good, and dressed it per- 
fectly even and smooth, and as prettily as she could. 

The sisters had scarcely eaten for two days, and had 
broken a dozen stay-laces a day in trying to make 
themselves slender ; but to-night they broke a dozen 
more, and lost their tempers over and over again be- 
fore they had completed their toilette. When at last 
the happy moment arrived, Cinderella followed them 
to the coach ; after it had whirled them away, she sat 
down by the kitchen fire and cried. 

Immediately her godmother, who was a fairy, ap- 
peared beside her. What are you crying for, my 
little maid ? ” 

Oh, I wish — I wish — ” Her sobs stopped her. 

“ You wish to go to the ball. Is n’t it so ? ” 

Cinderella nodded. 

Well, then, be a good girl and you shall go. 
First run into the garden and fetch me the largest 
pumpkin you can find.” 

Cinderella did not comprehend what this had to do 
with her going to the ball, but, being obedient and 
obliging, she went. Her godmother took the pump- 
kin, and having scooped out all its inside, struck it 
with her wand : it became a splendid gilt coach lined 
with rose-colored satin. 

^^Now fetch me the mouse- trap out of the pantry, 
my dear.” 

Cinderella brought it. It contained six of the fattest, 


30 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


sleekest mice. The fairy lifted up the wire door, and 
as each mouse ran out she struck it and changed it 
into a beautiful black horse. 

But what shall I do for your coachman, Cinder- 
ella?^’ 

Cinderella suggested that she had seen a large 
black rat in the rat-trap, and he might do for want of 
better. 

You are right. Go and look again for him.” 

He was found, and the fairy made him into a most 
respectable coachman, with the finest whiskers Imagi- 
nable. She afterwards took six lizards from behind 
the pumpkin frame, and changed them into six foot- 
men, all in splendid livery, who immediately jumped 
up behind the carriage, as if they had been footmen 
all their days. Well, Cinderella, now you can go to 
the ball.” 

What, in these clothes ? ” said Cinderella pite- 
ously, looking down on her ragged frock. 

Her godmother laughed, and touched her also with 
the wand; at which her wretched threadbare jacket 
became stiff with gold and sparkling with jewels ; 
her woollen petticoat lengthened into a gown of sweep- 
ing satin, from underneath which peeped out her little 
feet, no longer bare, but covered with silk stockings 
and the prettiest glass slippers in the world. “ Now, 
Cinderella, depart; but remember, if you sta}^ one 
instant after midnight your carriage will become 
a pumpkin, your coachman a rat, your horses mice, 
and your footmen lizards ; while you yourself will be 
the little cinder-wench you were an hour ago.” 

Cinderella promised without fear, her heart was so 
full of joy. 

Arrived at the palace, the king’s son, whom some 
one, probably the fairy, had told to await the coming 
of an uninvited princess whom nobody knew, was 


CINDERELLA. 


31 


standing at the entrance, ready to receive her. He 
offered her his hand and led her with the utmost 
courtesy through the assembled guests, who stood 
aside to let her pass, whispering to one another, Oh, 
how beautiful she is ! ” It might have turned the 
head of any one but poor Cinderella, who was so used 
to be despised that she took it all as if it were some- 
thing happening in a dream. 

Her triumph was complete ; even the old king said 
to the queen that never since her majesty’s young 
days had he seen so charming and elegant a person. 
All the court ladies scanned her eagerly, clothes and 
all, determining to have theirs made next day of 
exactly the same pattern. The king’s son himself led 
her out to dance, and she danced so gracefully that he 
admired her more and more. Indeed, at supper, 
which was fortunately early, his admiration quite 
took away his appetite. For Cinderella herself, with 
an involuntary shyness she sought out her sisters, 
placed herself beside them and offered them all sorts 
of civil attentions, which, coming as they supposed 
from a stranger and so magnificent a lady, almost 
overwhelmed them with delight. 

While she was talking with them she heard the 
clock strike a quarter to twelve, and making a cour- 
teous adieu to the royal family she reentered her car- 
riage, escorted tenderly by the king’s son, and arrived 
in safety at her own door. There she found her god- 
mother, who smiled approval ; and of whom she begged 
permission to go to a second ball the following night, 
to which the queen had earnestly invited her. 

While she was talking the two sisters were heard 
knocking at the gate, and the fairy godmother vanished, 
leaving Cinderella sitting in the bhimney-corner, rub- 
bing her eyes and pretending to be very sleepy. 

^^Ah/’ cried the eldest sister maliciously, ^^it has 


32 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


been the most delightful ball, and there was present 
the most beautiful princess I ever saw, who was so 
exceedingly polite to us both.” 

Was she ? ” said Cinderella indifferently ; “ and 
who might she be ? ” 

Nobody knows, though everybody would give their 
eyes to know, especially the king’s son.” 

Indeed ! ” replied Cinderella, a little more inter- 
ested. ‘‘I should like to see her. Miss Javotte,” — 
that was the elder sister’s name, — will you not let 
me go to-morrow, and lend me your yellow gown that 
you wear on Sundays ? ” 

What, lend my yellow gown to a cinder-wench ! I 
am not so mad as that ; ” at which refusal Cinderella 
did not complain, for if her sister really had lent her 
the gown she would have been considerably embar- 
rassed. 

The next night came, and the two young ladies, 
richly dressed in different toilets, went to the ball. 
Cinderella, more splendidly attired and beautiful than 
ever, followed them shortly after. Now remember 
twelve o’clock,” was her godmother’s parting speech ; 
and she thought she certainly should. But the prince’s 
attentions to her were greater even than the first even- 
ing, and in the delight of listening to his pleasant 
conversation time slipped by unperceived. While 
she was sitting beside him in a lovely alcove, and 
looking at the moon from under a bower of orange 
blossoms, she heard a clock strike the first stroke of 
twelve. She started up and fled away as lightly as 
a deer. 

Amazed, the prince followed, but could not catch 
her. Indeed, he missed his lovely princess altogether, 
and only saw running out of the palace doors a little 
dirty lass whom he had never beheld before, and of 
whom he certainly would never have taken the least 


CINDERELLA. 


33 


notice. Cinderella arrived at home breathless and 
weary, ragged and cold, without carriage, or footmen, 
or coachman ; the only remnant of her past magnifi- 
cence being one of her little glass slippers, — the 
other she had dropped in the ballroom as she ran 
away. 

When the two sisters returned they were full of this 
strange adventure, how the beautiful lady had appeared 
at the ball more beautiful than ever, and enchanted 
every one who looked at her ; and how as the clock 
was striking twelve she had suddenly risen up and 
fled through the ballroom, disappearing no one knew 
how or where, and dropping one of her glass slippers 
behind her in her flight. How the king’s son had 
remained inconsolable until he chanced to pick up the 
little glass slipper, which he carried away in his 
pocket, and was seen to take it out continually and 
look at it affectionately, with the air of a man very 
much in love ; in fact, from his behavior during the 
remainder of the evening, 'all the court and royal 
family were convinced that he had become desperately 
enamoured of the wearer of the little glass slipper. 

Cinderella listened in silence, turning her face to 
the kitchen fire, and perhaps it was that which made 
her look so rosy ; but nobody ever noticed or admired 
her at home, so it did not signify, and next morning 
she went to her weary work again just as before. 

A few days after, the whole city was attracted by 
the sight of a herald going round with a little glass 
slipper in his hand, publishing, with a flourish of 
trumpets, that the king’s son ordered this to be fitted 
on the foot of every lady in the kingdom, and that he 
wished to marry the lady whom it fitted best, or to 
whom it and the fellow slipper belonged. Princesses, 
duchesses, countesses, and simple gentlewomen all 
tried it on, but being a fairy slipper, it fitted nobody ; 


34 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


and beside, nobody could produce its fellow slipper, 
whicli lay all the time safely in the pocket of Cinder- 
ella’s old linsey gown. 

At last the herald came to the house of the two 
sisters, and though they well knew neither of them- 
selves was the beautiful lady, they made every at- 
tempt to get their clumsy feet into the glass slipper, 
but in vain. 

‘‘ Let me try it on,” said Cinderella from the chim- 
ney-corner. 

What, you ? ” cried the others, bursting into shouts 
of laughter ; but Cinderella only smiled and held out 
her hand. 

Her sisters could not prevent her, since the com- 
mand was that every young maiden in the city should 
try on the slipper, in order that no chance might be 
left untried, for the prince was nearly breaking his 
heart ; and his father and mother were afraid that, 
though a prince, he would actually die for love of the 
beautiful unknown lady. • 

So the herald bade Cinderella sit down on a three- 
legged stool in the kitchen, and himself put the slip- 
per on her pretty little foot, which it fitted exactly ; 
she then drew from her pocket the fellow slipper, 
which she also put on, and stood up, — for with the 
touch of the magic shoes all her dress was changed 
likewise, — no longer the poor, despised cinder- wench, 
but the beautiful lady whom the king’s son loved. 

Her sisters recognized her at once. Filled with 
astonishment, mingled with no little alarm, they threw 
themselves at her feet, begging her pardon for all 
their former unkindness. She raised and embraced 
them ; told them she forgave them with all her heart, 
and only hoped they would love her always. Then 
she departed with the herald to the king’s palace, and 
told her whole story to his majesty and the royal 


ADVENTITKES OP JOHN DIETIHCH. 


35 


family, who were not in the least surprised, for every- 
body believed in fairies, and everybody longed to have 
a fairy godmother. 

For the young prince, he found her more lovely and 
lovable than ever, and insisted upon marrying her 
immediately. Cinderella never went home again, but 
she sent for her two sisters to the palace, and with the 
consent of all parties married them shortly after to 
two rich gentlemen of the court. 


ADVENTURES OF JOHN DIETRICH. 

There once lived in Rambin, a town near the Baltic 
sea, an honest, industrious man named James Die- 
trich. He had several children, all of a good disposi- 
tion, especially the youngest, whose name was John. 
John Dietrich was a handsome, smart boy, diligent at 
school and obedient at home. His great passion was 
for hearing stories, and whenever he met any one who 
was well stored with such, he never let him go till he 
had heard them all. 

When John was about eight years old he was sent 
to spend a summer with his uncle, a farmer in Roden- 
kirchen. Here he had to keep cows with other boys, 
and they used to drive them to graze about the Nine- 
hills, where an old cowherd, one Klas Starkwolt, 
frequently came to join the lads, and then they would 
sit down all together and tell stories. Consequently 
Klas became John’s best friend, for he knew stories 
without end. He could tell all about the Nine-hills, 
and the underground folk who inhabited them ; how 
the giants disappeared from the country, and the 
dwarfs or little people came in their stead. These tales 
John swallowed so eagerly that he thought of nothing 


36 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


else, and was forever talking of golden cups, and 
crowns, and glass shoes, and pockets full of ducats, 
and gold rings, and diamond coronets, and snow-white 
brides, and the like. Old Klas used often to shake his 
head at him and say, “ John ! John ! what are yon 
about ? The spade and scythe will be your sceptre and 
crown, and your bride will wear a garland of rosemary 
and a gown of striped drill.” 

Still John almost longed to get into the Nine-hills, for 
Klas had told him that any one who by luck or cunning 
should get the cap of one of the little people might go 
down with safety, and instead of becoming their slave, 
he would be their master. The fairy whose cap he 
got would be his servant, and obey all his commands. 

Midsummer-eve, when the days are longest and the 
nights shortest, was now come. In the village of 
Eambin old and young kept the holiday, had all sorts 
of plays, and told all kinds of stories. John, who 
knew that this season was the time for all fairy people 
to come abroad, could now no longer contain himself, 
but the day after the festival he slipped away to the 
Nine-hills, and when it grew dark laid himself down 
on the top of the highest of them, which Klas had told 
him was the principal dancing-ground of the under- 
ground people. John lay quite still from ten till twelve 
at night. At last it struck twelve. Immediately there 
was a ringing and a singing in the hills, and then a 
whispering and a lisping and a whiz and a buzz all 
about him, for the little people were now come out, 
some whirling round and round in the dance, and 
others sporting and tumbling about in the moonshine, 
and playing a thousand merry pranks. He felt a secret 
dread creep over him at this whispering and buzzing, 
for he could see nothing of them, as the caps they wore 
made them invisible ; but he lay quite still, with his 
face in the grass and his eyes fast shut, snoring a little 


ADVENTURES OF JOHN DIETRICH. 


37 


just as if he was asleep. Yet now and then he vent- 
ured to open his eyes a little and peep out, but not 
the slightest trace of them could he see, though it was 
bright moonlight. 

It was not long before three of the underground 
people came jumping up to where he was lying ; but 
they took no heed of him, and flung their brown caps 
up into the air, and caught them from one another. 
At length one snatched the cap out of the hand of 
another and flung it away. It flew direct, and fell 
upon John’s head. He could feel, though he could not 
see it ; and the moment he did feel it, he caught hold 
of it. Starting up, he swung it about for joy, and 
made the little silver bell of it tingle, then set it upon 
his head, and — oh, wonderful to relate ! — that instant 
he saw the countless and merry swarm of the little 
people. 

The three little men came slyly up to him, and 
thought by their nimbleness to get back the cap, but 
he held his prize fast, and they saw clearly that 
nothing was to be done in this way with him, for in 
size and strength John was a giant in comparison of 
these little fellows, who hardly reached his knee. 
The owner of the cap now came up very humbly to 
the finder, and begged, in as supplicating a tone as if 
his life depended upon it, that he would give him 
back his cap. ^^No,” said John, ^^you sly little rogue, 
you ’ll get the cap no more. That ’s not the sort of 
thing. I should be in a nice perplexity if I had not 
something of yours ; now you have no power over 
me, but must do what I please. And I will go down 
with you, and see how you live below, and you shall 
be my servant. Nay, no grumbling; you know you 
must. And I know it too, just as well as you do, for 
Klas Starkwolt told it to me often and often.” 

The little man made as if he had not heard or 


38 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


■understood one word of all this ; he began all his 
crying and Avhining over again, and wept, and 
screamed, and howled most piteously for his little 
cap. But John cut the matter short by saying to 
him, Have done ; you are my servant, and I intend 
to take a trip with you.’’ So the underground man 
gave up the point, especially as he well knew there 
was no remedy. 

John now flung away his old hat and put on the 
cap, and set it flrmly on his head lest it should slip 
ofl or fly away, for all his power lay in it. He lost 
no time in trying its virtues, but commanded his new 
servant to fetch him food and drink. The servant 
ran away like the wind, and in a second was there 
again with bottles of wine, and bread, and rich fruits. 
So John ate and drank, and looked on at the sports 
and the dancing of the little people, and it pleased 
him right well, and he behaved himself stoutly and 
wisely, as if he was a born master. 

When the cock had now crowed for the third time, 
and the little larks had made their first flutter in the 
sky, and the daybreak appeared in slender white 
streaks in the east, then there went a whisper, hush, 
hush, hush, through the bushes, and flowers, and 
trees ; and the hills rang again and opened up, and 
the little men stole down and disappeared. John 
gave close attention to everything, and found that it 
was exactly as he had b^en told. And behold ! on 
the top of the hill where they had just been dancing, 
and which was now full of grass and flowers, as people 
see it by day, there rose, of a sudden, a small glass 
door. Whosoever wanted to go in stepped upon this ; 
it opened and he glided gently in, the glass closing 
again after him; and when they had all entered it 
vanished, and there was no farther trace of it to be 
seen. Those who descended through the glass door 


ADVENTURES OF JOHN DIETRICH. 39 

sank quite gently into a wide silver tun or barrel, 
which held them all, and could easily have harbored 
a thousand such little people. John and his man 
went down also, along with several others, all of 
whom screamed out and prayed him not to tread on 
them, for if his weight came on them they were dead 
men. He was, however, careful, and acted in a very 
friendly way towards them. Several barrels of this 
kind went up and down after each other, until all 
were in. They hung by long silver chains, which 
were drawn and guided from below. 

In his descent John was amazed at the wonderful 
brilliancy of the walls between which the tun glided 
down. They seemed all studded with pearls and 
diamonds, glittering and sparkling brightly, while 
below him he heard the most beautiful music tink- 
ling at a distance, so that he did not know what he 
was about, and from excess of pleasure he fell fast 
asleep. 

He slept a long time, and when he awoke he found 
himself in the most beautiful bed that could be, such 
as he had never seen in his father’s or any other 
house. It was also the prettiest little chamber in the 
world, and his servant was beside him with a fan to 
keep away the flies and gnats. He had hardly opened 
his eyes when his little servant brought him a basin 
and towel, and held ready for him to put on his nicest 
new clothes of brown silk, most beautifully made ; 
with these was a pair of new black shoes with red 
ribbons, such as John had never beheld in Rambin oi\ 
in Rodenkirchen either. There were also there several 
pairs of glittering glass shoes, such as are only used 
on great occasions. John was, we may well suppose, 
delighted to have such clothes to wear, and he put 
them on joyfully. His servant then flew like light- 
ning and returned with a fine 'breakfast of wine and 


40 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


milk, and delicate white bread and fruits, and such 
other things as little boys are fond of. He now per- 
ceived, every moment, more and more, that Klas 
Starkwolt, the old cowherd, knew what he was talking 
about, for the splendor and magnificence here sur- 
passed anything John had ever dreamt of. His 
servant, too, was the most obedient one possible ; a 
nod or a sign was enough for him, for he was as wise 
as a bee, as all these little people are by nature. 

John’s bedroom was all covered with emeralds and 
other precious stones, and in the ceiling was a diamond 
as big as a nine-pin bowl, that gave light to the whole 
chamber. In this place they have neither sun, nor 
moon, nor stars to give them light ; neither do they 
use lamps or candles of any kind ; but they live in 
the midst of precious stones, and have the purest of 
gold and silver in abundance, from which they man- 
age to obtain light both by day and by night, though 
indeed, properly speaking, as there is no sun here, 
there is no distinction of day and night, and they 
reckon only by weeks. They set the brightest and 
clearest precious stones in their dwellings, and in the 
ways and passages leading under the ground, and in 
the places where they have their large halls, and their 
dances and feasts ; and the sparkle of these jewels 
makes a sort of silvery twilight which is far more 
beautiful than common day. 

When John had finished his breakfast his servant 
opened a little door in the wall, where was a closet 
with silver and gold cups and dishes and other vessels, 
and baskets filled with ducats, and boxes of jewels 
and precious stones. There were also charming pict- 
ures, and the most delightful story-books he had seen 
in the whole course of his life. 

John spent the morning looking at these things, 
and when it was micVklay a bell rung, and his servant 


ADVENTURES OP JOHN DIETRICH. 


41 


said, Will you dine alone, sir, or with the large 
company ? ” 

With the large company, to be sure,^’ replied 
John. So his servant led him out. John, however, 
saw nothing but solitary halls, lighted up with pre- 
cious stones, and here and there little men and women, 
who appeared to him to glide out of the clefts and fis- 
sures of the rocks. Wondering what it was the bells 
rang for, he said to his servant , “ But where is the 
company ? ” And scarcely had he spoken when the 
hall they were in opened out to a great extent, and a 
canopy set with diamonds and precious stones was 
drawn over it. At the same moment he saw an 
immense throng of nicely dressed little men and 
women pouring in through several open doors ; the 
floor opened in several places, and tables, covered 
with the most beautiful ware, and the most luscious 
meats, and fruits, and wines, arranged themselves in 
rows, and the chairs arranged themselves along beside 
the tables, and then the men and women took their 
seats. 

The principal persons now came forward, bowed 
to John, and led him to their table, where they placed 
him among their most beautiful maidens, a distinction 
which pleased John well. The party too was very 
merry, for the underground people are extremely lively 
and cheerful, and can never stay long quiet. Then 
the most charming music sounded over their heads ; 
and beautiful birds, flying about, sung sweetly : these 
were not real, but artificial birds, which the little men 
make so ingeniously that they can fly about and sing 
like natural ones. 

The servants of both sexes, who waited at table, and 
handed about the gold cups, and the silver and crystal 
baskets with fruit, were mortal children, whom some 
misfortune had thrown among the underground people, 


42 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


and who, having come down without securing any 
pledge, such as John’s cap, had fallen into their power. 
These were differently clad from their masters. The 
boys and girls were dressed in snow-white coats and 
jackets, and wore glass shoes, so thin that their steps 
could never be heard, with blue caps on their heads, 
and silver belts round their waists. 

John at first pitied them, seeing how they were 
forced to run about and wait on the little people ; but 
as they looked cheerful and happy, and were hand- 
somely dressed and had such rosy cheeks, he said to 
himself, After all, they are not so badly off, and I 
was myself much worse when I had to be running 
after the cows and bullocks. To be sure, I am now a 
master here, and they are servants ; but there is no 
help for it ; why were they so foolish as to let them- 
selves be taken and not get some pledge beforehand ? 
At any rate, the time must come when they shall be 
set at liberty, and they will certainly not be longer 
than fifty years here.” With these thoughts he con- 
soled himself, and sported and played away with his 
little playfellows, and ate, and drank, and made his 
servant and the others tell him stories, for he always 
liked to hear something strange, and to get to the 
bottom of everything. 

They sat at table about two hours. The principal 
person then rang a little bell, and the tables and chairs 
all vanished in a whiff, leaving the company standing 
on their feet. The birds now struck up a most lively 
air, and the little people began to dance, jumping and 
leaping and whirling round and round, as if the world 
were grown dizzy. And the pretty little girls that sat 
next John caught hold of him and whirled him about ; 
and, without making any resistance, he danced with 
them for two good hours. Every afternoon while he 
remained there he used to do the same ; and, to the 


ADVENTURES OF JOHN DIETRICH. 


43 


last hour of his life, he always spoke of it with the 
greatest glee. 

When the music and dancing were over, it might be 
about four o’clock. The little people then disappeared, 
and went each about their work or their pleasure. 
After supper they sported and danced in the same 
way ; and at midnight, especially on starlight nights, 
they slipped out of their hills to dance in the open air. 
John used then, like a good boy, to say his prayers 
and go to sleep, a duty he never neglected either in 
the evening or in the morning. 

For the first week that John was in the glass-hill he 
only went from his chamber to the great hall and back 
again. After then, however, he began to walk about, 
making his servant show and explain everything to 
him. He found that there were here most beautiful 
walks, in which he might ramble along for miles, in 
all directions, without ever finding an end of them, so 
immensely large was. the hill that the little people 
lived in ; and yet outwardly it seemed but a little hill, 
with a few bushes and trees growing on it. 

He found also meadows and lanes, islands and lakes, 
where the bird^ sang sweeter and the flowers were 
more brilliant and fragrant than anything he had ever 
seen on earth. There was a breeze, and yet one did 
not feel the wind 5 it was quite clear and bright, but 
there was no heat ; the waves were dashing, still there 
was no danger; and the most beautiful little barks 
and canoes came, like white swans, when one wanted 
to cross the water, and went backwards and forwards 
of their own accord. Whence all this came nobody 
knew, nor could his servant tell anything about it. 

These lovely meads and plains were, for the most 
part, all solitary. Few of the underground people 
were to be seen upon them, and those that were just 
glided across them, as if in the greatest hurry. It 


44 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


very rarely happened that any of them danced out here 
in the open air ; sometimes about three of them did 
so, at the most half a dozen ; John never saw a greater 
number together. The meadows never seemed cheer- 
ful, except when the earth-children, who were kept 
as servants, were let out to walk. This, however, 
happened but twice a week, for they were mostly kept 
employed in the great hall and adjoining apartments, 
or at school. 

Tor John soon found they had schools there also. 
He had been there about ten months, when one day 
he saw something snow-white gliding into a rock, and 
disappearing. What ! ’’ said he to his servant ; are 
there some of you too that wear white, like the ser- 
vants?’’ He was informed that there were; but' 
they were few in number, and never appeared at the 
large tables or the dances, except once a year, on the 
birthday of the great Hill-king, who dwelt many thou- 
sand miles below in the great deep. These were the 
oldest men among them, some being many thousand 
years old; they knew all things, and could tell of 
the beginning of the world, and were called the Wise. 
They lived all alone, and only left their chambers to 
instruct the underground children and the attendants . 
of both sexes. 

John was greatly interested by this news, and he 
determined to take advantage of it ; so next morning 
he made his servant conduct him to the school, and 
was so well pleased with it that he never missed a 
day. The scholars were taught reading, writing, and 
accounts, to compose and relate histories and stories, 
and many elegant kinds of work ; so that many 
came out of the hills very prudent and learned. The 
biggest, and those of best capacity, received instruc- 
tion in natural science and astronomy, and in poetry 
and riddle-making arts highly esteemed by the little 


ADVENTURES OF JOHN DIETRICH. 45 

people. John was very diligent, and soon became a 
clever painter;. he wrought, too, most ingeniously in 
gold, and silver, and stones ; and in verse and riddle- 
making he had no fellow. 

John had spent many a happy year here without 
ever thinking of the upper world, or of those he had 
left behind, so pleasantly passed the time, so many 
an agreeable playfellow had he among the children. 

Of all his playfellows there was none of whom he 
was so fond as of a little fair-haired girl, named 
Elizabeth Krabbin. She was from his own village, 
and was the daughter of Frederick Krabbe, the min- 
ister of Eambin. She was but four years old when 
she was taken away, and John had often heard tell 
of her. She was not, however, stolen by the little 
people, but came into their power in this manner : 
One day in summer she, with other children, ran 
out into the fields ; in their rambles they went to the 
Nine-hills, where little Elizabeth fell asleep, and was 
forgotten by the rest. At night, when she awoke, 
she found herself under the ground among the little 
people. It was not merely because she was from his 
own village that John was so fond of Elizabeth, but 
she was a most beautiful child, with clear blue eyes 
and ringlets of fair hair, and a most angelic smile. 

Time flew away un perceived; John was now eigh- 
teen, and Elizabeth sixteen. Their childish fondness 
was now become love, and the little people were 
pleased to see it, thinking that by means of her they 
might get John to renounce his power and become 
their servant ; for they were fond of him, and would 
willingly have had him to wait upon them; the love 
of dominion is their vice. But they were mistaken ; 
John had learned too much from his servant to be 
caught in that way. 

John’s chief delight was walking about alone with 


46 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Elizabeth ; for he now knew every place so well that 
he could dispense with the attendance of his servant. 
In these rambles he was always gay and lively, but 
his companion was frequently sad and melancholy, 
thinking of the land above, where men lived, and 
where the sun, moon, and stars shine. Now it hap- 
pened in one of their walks that as they talked of 
their love, and it was after midnight, they passed 
under the place where the tops of the glass hills used 
to open and let the underground people in and out. 
As they went along they heard of a sudden the crow- 
ing of several cocks above. At this sound, which she 
had not heard for twelve years, little Elizabeth felt 
her heart so affected that she could contain herself 
no longer, but throwing her arms about John’s neck, 
she bathed his cheeks with her tears. At length she 
spake : 

Dearest John,” said she, everything down here is 
very beautiful, and the little people are kind and do 
nothing to injure me, but still I have always been 
uneasy, nor ever felt any pleasure till I began to love 
you ; and yet that is not pure pleasure, for this is not 
a right way of living, such as it should be for human 
beings. Every night I dream of my dear father and 
mother, and of our churchyard, where the people 
stand so piously at the church-door waiting for my 
father, and I could weep tears of blood that I cannot 
go into the church with them, and worship God as a 
human being should ; for this is no Christian life we 
lead down here, but a delusive half-heathen one. And 
only think, dear John, that we can never marry, as 
there is no priest to join us. Do, then, plan some 
way for us to leave this place ; for I cannot tell you 
how I long to get once more to my father, and among 
pious Christians.” 

John too had not been unaffected by the crowing of 


ADVENTUKES OF JOHN DIETRICH. 


47 


the cocks, and he felt what he had never felt here 
before, a longing after the land where the sun shines. 
He replied : 

Dear Elizabeth, all you say is true, and I now 
feel that it is a sin for Christians to stay here ; and it 
seems to me as if our Lord said to us in that cry of 
the cocks, ‘ Come up, ye Christian children, out of 
those abodes of illusion and magic ; come to the light 
of the stars, and act as children of light.’ I now feel 
that it was a great sin for me to come down here, but 
I trust I shall be forgiven on account of my youth ; 
for I was a child and knew not what I did. But now 
I will not stay a day longer. They cannot keep me 
here.” 

At these last words Elizabeth turned pale, for she 
recollected that she was a servant, and must serve her 
fifty years. And what will it avail me,” cried she, 

that I shall continue young and be but as twenty 
years old when I go out, for my father and mother 
will be dead, and all my companions old and gray ; 
and you, dearest John, will be old and gray also,” 
cried she, throwing herself on his bosom. 

John was thunderstruck at this, for it had never 
before occurred to him; he, however, comforted her 
as well as he could, and declared he would never 
leave the place without her. He spent the whole 
night in forming various plans; at last he fixed on 
one, and in the morning he dispatched his servant to 
summon to his apartment six of the principal of the 
little people. When they came, John thus mildly 
addressed them : 

My friends, you know how I came here, not as a 
prisoner or servant, but as a lord and master over one 
of you, and, consequently, over all. You have now 
for the ten years I have been with you treated me 
with respect and attention, and for that I am your 


48 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


debtor. But you are still more my debtors, for I 
might have given you every sort of annoyance and 
vexation, and you must have submitted to it. I have, 
however, not done so, but have behaved as your equal, 
and have sported and played with you rather than 
ruled over you. I now have one request to make. 
There is a girl among your servants whom I love, 
Elizabeth Krabbin, of Bambin, where I was born. 
Give her to me, and let us depart. For I will re- 
turn to where the sun shines and the plough goes 
through the land. I ask to take nothing with me 
but her, and the ornaments and furniture of my 
chamber.’’ 

He spoke in a determined tone, and they hesitated 
and cast their eyes to the ground ; at last the eldest 
of them replied : 

Sir, you ask what we cannot grant. It is a fixed 
law that no servant should leave this place before 
the appointed time. Were we to break through this 
law, our whole subterranean empire would fall. Any- 
thing else you desire, for we love and respect you, 
but we cannot give up Elizabeth.” 

You can and you shall give her up,” cried John in 
a rage ; go think of it till to-morrow. Eeturn here at 
this hour. I will show you whether or no I can triumph 
over your hypocritical and cunning stratagems.” 

The six retired. Next morning, on their return, 
John addressed them in the kindest manner, but to 
no purpose ; they persisted in their refusal. He gave 
them till the following day, threatening them severely 
in case of their still proving refractory. 

Next day, when the six little people appeared before 
him, John looked at them sternly, and made no reply 
to their salutations, but said to them shortly, Yes or 
no?” And they answered with one voice, ^‘No.” 
He then ordered his servant to summon twenty-four 


ADVENTUllES OE JOHN DIP^TIHCH. 


49 


more of the principal persons, with their wives and 
children. When they came they were in all five 
hundred, men, women, and children. John ordered 
them forthwith to go and fetch pickaxes, spades, and 
bars, which they did in a second. 

He now led them out to a rock in one of the fields, 
and ordered them to fall to work at blasting, hewing, 
and dragging stones. They toiled patiently, and made 
as if it was only sport to them. From morning till 
night their taskmaster made them labor without ceas- 
ing, standing over them constantly to prevent their 
resting. Still their obstinacy was inflexible ; and at 
the end of some weeks his pity for them was so great 
that he was obliged to give over. 

He now thought of a new species of punishment for 
them. He ordered them to appear before him next 
morning, each provided with a new whip. They 
obeyed, and John commanded them to strip and lash 
one another till the blood should run down on the 
ground, while he stood looking on as grim and cruel 
as an Eastern tyrant. Still the little people cut and 
slashed themselves, and mocked at John, and refused 
to comply with his wishes. This he did for three or 
four days. 

Several other courses did he try, but all in vain ; his 
temper was too gentle to struggle with their obstinacy, 
and he began now to despair of ever accomplishing 
his dearest wish. He began to hate the little people 
whom he was before so fond of ; he kept away from 
their banquets and dances, associated only with Eliza- 
beth, and ate and drank quite solitary in his chamber. 
In short, he became almost a perfect hermit, and sank 
into moodiness and melancholy. 

While in this temper, as he was taking a solitary 
walk in the evening, and, to divert his melancholy, 
was flinging the stones that lay in his path against 


50 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


each other, he happened to break a tolerably large one, 
and out of it jumped a toad. The moment John saw 
the ugly animal he caught him up in ecstasy, and put 
him into his pocket and ran home, crying, ‘‘Now I 
have her! I have my Elizabeth! Now you shall catch 
it, you little mischievous rascals ! ” And on getting 
home he put the toad into a costly silver casket, as if 
it was the greatest treasure. 

To account for John’s joy you must know Klas 
Starkwolt had often told him that the underground 
people could not endure any ill odor, and that the sight 
or even the smell of a toad made them faint and suffer 
the most dreadful tortures, so that, by means of these 
animals, one could compel them to anything. Hence 
there are no bad smells to be found in the whole glass 
empire, and a toad is a thing unheard of there ; this 
toad must therefore have been inclosed in the stone 
from the Creation, as it were for the sake of John and 
Elizabeth. 

Resolved to try the effect of his toad, John took the 
casket under his arm and went out, and on the way he 
met two of the little people in a lonesome place. The 
moment he approached them they fell to the ground, 
and whimpered and howled most lamentably as long 
as he was near them. 

Satisfied now of his power, he next morning sum- 
moned the fifty principal persons, with their wives 
and children, to his apartment. When they came he 
addressed them, reminding them once again of his 
kindness and gentleness towards them, and of the 
good terms on which they had hitherto lived together. 
He reproached them with their ingratitude in refusing 
him the only favor he had ever asked of them, but 
firmly declared he would not give way to their obsti- 
nacy. “ Wherefore,” said he, “ for the last time I 
warn you ; think for a minute, and if you then say 


ADVENTURES OF JOHN DIETRICH. 51 

^No/ you shall feel that pain which is to you and 
your children the most terrible of all sufferings.’’ 

They did not take long to deliberate, but unani-* 
mously replied ^^No;” for they thought to them- 
selves, What new scheme has the youth hit on, with 
which he thinks to frighten wise ones like us ? ” and 
they smiled when they said No.” Their smiling 
enraged J ohn above all, and he ran back to where he 
had laid the casket with the toad under a bush. 

He was hardly come within a hundred paces of 
them when they all fell to the ground as if struck 
with a thunderbolt, and began to howl and whimper, 
and to writhe as if suffering the most excruciating 
pain. They stretched out their hands and cried. 
Have mercy ! have mercy ! W e feel you have a toad, 
and there is no escape for us. Take the odious beast 
away, and we will do all you require.” He let them 
kick a few seconds longer, and then took the toad 
away. They then stood up and felt no more pain. 
John let all depart but the six chief persons, to whom 
he said : 

^^This night, between twelve and one, Elizabeth 
and I will depart. Load then for me three wagons 
with gold, and silver, and precious stones. I might, 
you know, take all that is in the hill, and you deserve 
it, but I will be merciful. Farther, you must put all 
the furniture of my chamber in two wagons, and get 
ready for me the handsomest travelling carriage that 
is in the hill, with six black horses. Moreover, you 
must set at liberty all the servants who have been so 
long here that on earth they would be twenty years 
old and upwards, and you must give them as much 
silver and gold as will make them rich for life, and 
make a law that no one shall be detained here longer 
than his twentieth year.” 

The six took the oath and went away quite melan- 


52 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


choly, and John buried his toad deep in the ground. 
The little people labored hard according to his bid- 
ding. At midnight everything was out of the hill, and 
John and Elizabeth got into the silver tun and were 
drawn up. 

It was then one o’clock and midsummer-eve, the 
very time that twelve years before John had gone 
down into the hill. Music sounded around them, and 
they saw the glass hill open, and the rays of the light 
of heaven shine on them for the first time after so 
many years ; and when they got out they saw the 
streaks of dawn already in the east. Crowds of the 
underground people were around them busied about 
the wagons. John bade them a last farewell, waved 
his brown cap three times in the air, and then flung 
it among them. And at the same moment he ceased 
to see them ; he beheld nothing but a green hill and 
the well-known bushes and fields, and heard the 
church-clock of Eambin strike two. When all was 
still, save a few larks who were tuning their morning 
songs, they both fell on their knees and worshipped 
God, resolving henceforth to lead a pious and a Chris- 
tian life. 

When the sun rose John and his Elizabeth, with 
the children whom they had saved from the under- 
ground people, set out for Eambin. Every well- 
known object that they saw awakened pleasing recol- 
lections ; and as they passed by Eodenkirchen John 
recognized, among the people that gazed at and fol- 
lowed them, his old friend Klas Starkwolt, the cow- 
herd, and his dog Speed. It was four in the morning 
when they entered Eambin, and they halted in the 
middle of the village, about twenty paces from the 
house where John was born. The whole village 
poured out to gaze on these Asiatic princes ; for such 
the old Sexton, who had in his youth been at Moscow 


ADVENTURES OF JOHN DIETRICH. 53 

and Constantinople, said they were. There John saw 
his father and mother, and his brother Andrew, and 
his sister Trine. The old minister, Krabbe, stood 
there too, in his black slippers and white nightcap, 
gaping and staring with the rest. 

John discovered himself to his parents, and Eliza- 
beth to hers, and the wedding-day was soon fixed, and 
such a wedding was never seen before or since in the 
island of Eugen; for John sent to Stralsund and 
Greifswald for whole boat-loads of wine and sugar 
and coffee, and whole herds of oxen, sheep, and pigs. 
The quantity of harts, and roes, and hares that were 
shot on the occasion it were vain to attempt to tell, 
or to count the fish that were caught. There was not 
a musician in Eugen and Pomerania that was not 
engaged, for John was immensely rich, and he wished 
to display his wealth. 

John did not neglect his old friend Klas Starkwolt, 
the cowherd. He gave him enough to make him com- 
fortable for the rest of his days, and insisted on his 
coming and staying with him as often and as long as 
he wished. 

After his marriage John made a progress through 
the country with his beautiful Elizabeth, and they pur- 
chased towns and villages and lands, until he became 
master of nearly half Eugen, and a very considerable 
portion of the country. His father, old J ames Dietrich, 
was made a nobleman, and his brothers and sisters gen- 
tlemen and ladies, — for what cannot money do ? 

eJohn and his wife spent their, days in acts of piety 
and charity. They built several churches, they had 
the blessings of every one that knew them, and died 
universally lamented. If was Count John Dietrich 
who built and richly endowed the present church of 
Eambin. He built it on the site of his father’s house, 
and presented to it several of the cups and plates 


54 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


made by the underground people, and his own and 
Elizabeth’s glass shoes, in memory of what had befallen 
them in their youth. But they were all taken away 
in the time of the great Charles the Twelfth of 
Sweden, when the Bussians came on the island, and 
the Cossacks plundered even the churches, and took 
away everything. 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. 

There was once a very rich merchant, who had six 
children, three boys and three girls. As he was him- 
self a man of great sense, he spared no expense for 
their education. The three daughters were all hand- 
some, but particularly the youngest ; indeed, she was 
so very beautiful that in her childhood every one 
called her the Little Beauty : and being equally lovely 
when she was grown up, nobody called her by any 
other name, which made her sisters very jealous of 
her. This youngest daughter was not only more hand- 
some than her sisters, but also was better tempered. 
The two eldest were vain of their wealth and position. 
They gave themselves a thousand airs, and refused to 
visit other merchants’ daughters ; nor would they con- 
descend to be seen except with persons of quality. 
They went every day to balls, plays, and public walks, 
and always made game of their youngest sister for 
spending her time in reading or other useful employ- 
ments. As it was well known that these young ladies 
would have large fortunes, many great merchants 
wished to get them for wives ; but the two eldest 
always answered that, for their parts, they had no 
thoughts of marrying any one below a duke or an earl 
at least. Beauty had quite as many offers as her 
sisters, but she always answered, with the greatest 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. 


55 


civility, that though she was much obliged to her 
lovers, she would rather live some years longer with 
her father, as she thought herself too young to marry. 

It happened that, by some unlucky accident, the 
merchant suddenly lost all his fortune, and had noth- 
ing left but a small cottage in the country. Upon this 
he said to his daughters, while the tears ran down his 
cheeks, My children, we must now go and dwell in 
the cottage, and try to get a living by labor, for we 
have no other means of support.” The two eldest 
replied that they did not know how to work, and would 
not leave town ; for they had lovers enough who would 
be glad to marry them, though thej^ had no longer any 
fortune. But in this they were mistaken ; for when 
the lovers heard what had happened, they said. 
The girls were so proud and ill-tempered that all we 
wanted was their fortune ; we are not sorry at all to 
see their pride brought down ; let them show off their 
airs to their cows and sheep.” But everybod}' pitied 
poor Beauty, because she was so sweet-tempered and 
kind to all, and several gentlemen offered to marry 
her, though she had not a penny ; but Beauty still 
refused, and said she could not think of leaving her 
poor father in this trouble. At first Beauty could not 
help sometimes crying in secret for the hardships she 
was now obliged to suffer ; but in a very short time 
she said to herself, All the crying in the world will 
do me no good, so I will try to be happy without a 
fortune.” 

When they had removed to their cottage, the mer- 
chant and his three sons employed themselves in 
ploughing and sowing the fields and working in the 
garden. Beauty also did her part, for she rose by four 
o’clock every morning, lighted the fires, cleaned the 
house, and got ready the breakfast for the whole 
family. At first she found all this very hard; but 


56 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


she soon grew quite used to it and thought it no hard- 
ship ; indeed, the work greatly benefited her health. 
When she had done, she used to amuse herself with 
reading, playing her music, or singing while she spun. 
But her two sisters were at a loss what to do to pass 
the time away ; they had their breakfast in bed, and 
did not rise till ten o’clock. Then they commonly 
walked out, but always found themselves very soon 
tired, when they would often sit down under a shady 
tree, and grieve for the loss of their carriage and fine 
clothes, and say to each other, What a mean-spirited 
poor stupid creature our young sister is, to be so 
content with this low way of life ! ” But their father 
thought differently, and loved and admired his young- 
est child more than ever. 

After they had lived in this manner about a year 
the merchant received a letter, which informed him 
that one of his richest ships, which he thought was 
lost, had just come into port. This news made the 
two eldest sisters almost mad with joy ; for they 
thought they should now leave the cottage and have 
all their finery again. When they found that their 
father must take a journey to the ship, the two eldest 
begged he would not fail to bring them back some 
new gowns, caps, rings, and all sorts of trinkets. 
But Beauty asked for nothing; for she thought in 
herself that all the ship was worth would hardly buy 
everything her sisters wished for. ^‘Beauty,” said 
the merchant, how comes it that you ask for noth- 
ing ? What can I bring you, my child ? ” 

Since you are so kind as to think of me, dear 
father,” she answered, I should be glad if you 
would bring me a rose, for we have none in our 
garden.” Now Beauty did not indeed wish for a 
rose nor anything else, but she only said this that 
she might not affront her sisters; otherwise they 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. 


57 


would have said she wanted her father to praise her 
for desiring nothing. The merchant took his leave of 
them, and set out on his journey ; but when he got to 
the ship, some persons went to law with him about 
the cargo, and after a deal of trouble he came back to 
his cottage as poor as he had left it. When he was 
within thirty miles of his home, and thinking of the 
joy of again meeting his children, he lost his way in 
the midst of a dense forest. It rained and snowed 
very hard, and, besides, the wind was so high as to 
throw him twice from his horse. Night came on, and 
he feared he should die of cold and hunger, or be torn 
to pieces by the wolves that he heard howling round 
him. All at once he cast his eyes towards a long 
avenue, and saw at the end a light, but it seemed a 
great way off. He made the best of his way towards 
it and found that it came from a splendid palace, the 
windows of which were all blazing with light. It 
had great bronze gates, standing wide open, and fine 
court yards, through which the merchant passed ; but 
not a living soul was to be seen. There were stables 
too, which his poor starved horse, less scrupulous 
than himself, entered at once, and took a good meal 
of oats and hay. His master then tied him up and 
walked towards the entrance hall, but still Avithout see- 
ing a single creature. He went on to a large dining- 
parlor, Avhere he found a good fire and a table covered 
Avith some very nice dishes, but only one plate with 
a knife and fork. As the snow and rain had wetted 
him to the skin, he went up to the fire to dry himself. 

I hope,^’ said he, the master of the house or his 
servants will excuse me, for it surely will not be long 
now before I see them.’’ He Avaited some time, but 
still nobody came. At last the clock struck eleven, and 
,the merchant, being quite faint for the want of food, 
helped himself to a chicken, and to a few glasses of 


58 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


wine, yet all the time trembling with fear. He sat 
till the clock struck twelve, and then, taking courage, 
began to think he might as well look about him ; so 
he opened a door at the end of the hall, and went 
through it into a very grand room, in which there 
was a fine bed ; and as he was feeling very weary, he 
shut the door, took off his clothes, and got into it. 

It was ten o’clock in the morning before he awoke, 
when he was amazed to see a handsome new suit of 
clothes laid ready for him, instead of his own, which 
were all torn and spoiled. To be sure,” said he to 
himself, this place belongs to some good fairy, who 
has taken pity on my ill-luck.” He looked out of the 
window, and instead of the snow-covered wood, where 
he had lost himself the previous night, he saw the 
most charming arbors covered with all kinds of 
flowers. Returning to the hall where he had supped, 
he found a breakfast table, ready prepared. In- 
deed, my good fairy,” said the merchant aloud, I 
am vastly obliged to you for your kind care of me.” 
He then made a hearty breakfast, took his hat, and 
was going to the stable to pay his horse a visit ; but as 
he passed under one of the arbors, which was loaded 
with roses, he thought of what Beauty had asked him 
to bring back to her, and so he took a bunch of roses 
to carry home. At the same moment he heard a loud 
noise, and saw coming towards him a beast so fright- 
ful to look at that he was ready to faint with fear. 

Ungrateful man ! ” said the beast in a terrible voice, 
“ I have saved your life by admitting you into my 
palace, and in return you steal my roses, which I 
value more than anything I possess. But you shall 
atone for your fault : you shall die in a quarter of an 
hour.” 

The merchant fell on his knees, and clasping his 
hands said, “ Sir, I humbly beg your pardon ; I did 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. 


59 


not think it would offend you to gather a rose for one 
of my daughters, who had entreated me to bring her 
one home. Do not kill me, my lord ! ” 

I am not a lord, but a beast,” replied the monster; 
“ I hate false compliments ; so do not fancy that you 
can coax me by any such ways. You tell me that you 
have daughters ; now I will suffer you to escape if 
one of them will come and die in your stead. If not, 
promise that you will yourself return in three months, 
to be dealt with as I may choose.” 

The tender-hearted merchant had no thoughts of 
letting any one of his daughters die for his sake ; but 
he knew that if he seemed to accept the beast’s terms, 
he should at least have the pleasure of seeing them 
once again. So he gave his promise, and was told he 
might then set off as soon as he liked. But,” said 
the beast, I do not wish you to go back empty- 
handed. Go to the room you slept in, and you will 
find a chest there ; fill it with whatsoever you like best, 
and I will have it taken to your own house for you.” 

When the beast had said this he went away. The 
good merchant, left to himself, began to consider that 
as he must die — for he had no thought of breaking a 
promise, made even to a beast — he might as well 
have the comfort of leaving his children provided for. 
He returned to the room he had slept in and found there 
heaps of gold pieces lying about. He filled the chest 
with them to the very brim, locked it, and mounting his 
horse left the palace as sorrowful as he had been glad 
when he first beheld it. The horse took a path across 
the forest of his own accord, and in a few hours they 
reached the merchant’s house. His children came run- 
ning round him, but, instead of kissing them with joy, 
he could not help weeping as he looked at them. He 
held in his hand the bunch of roses, which he gave to 
Beauty, saying, Take these roses. Beauty ; but little 


60 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


do you think how dear they have cost your poor 
father; ” and then he gave them an account of all that 
he had seen or heard in the palace of the beast. 

The two eldest sisters now began to shed tears, and 
to lay the blame upon Beauty, who, they said, would be 
the cause of her father’s death. See,” said they, 
what happens from the pride of the little wretch ; 
why did not she ask for such things as we did ? But, 
to be sure. Miss must not be like other people ; and 
though she will be the cause of her father’s death, 
yet she does not shed a tear.” 

“ It would be useless,” replied Beauty, “ for my 
father shall not die. As the beast will accept of one 
of his daughters, I will give myself up, and be only 
too happy to prove my love for the best of fathers.” 

No, sister,” said the three brothers with one voice, 
“ that cannot be ; we will go in search of this monster, 
and either he or we will perish.” 

Do not hope to kill him,” said the merchant ; his 
power is far too great. But Beauty’s young life 
shall not be sacrificed; I am old and cannot expect 
to live much longer ; so I shall but give up a few years 
of my life, and shall only grieve for the sake of my 
children.” 

Never, father ! ” cried Beauty. If you go back to 
the palace, you cannot hinder my going after you ; 
though young, I am not over-fond of life ; and I would 
much rather be eaten up by the monster than die of 
grief for your loss.” 

The merchant in vain tried to reason with Beauty, 
who still obstinately kept to her purpose ; which, in 
truth, made her two sisters glad, for they were jealous 
of her because everybody loved her. 

The merchant was so grieved at the thoughts of los- 
ing his child that he never once thought of the chest 
filled with gold, but at night, to his great surprise, he 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. 


61 


found it standing by his bedside. He said nothing 
about his riches to his eldest daughters, for he knew 
very well it would at once make them want to return 
to town ; but he told Beauty his secret, and she then 
said that, while he was away, two gentlemen had been 
on a visit at their cottage, who had fallen in love with 
her two sisters. She entreated her father to marry 
them without delay, for she was so sweet-natured she 
only wished them to be happy. 

Three months went by, only too fast, and then the 
merchant and Beauty got ready to set out for the palace 
of the beast. Upon this the two sisters rubbed their 
eyes with an onion, to make believe they were crying ; 
both the merchant and his sons cried in earnest. Only 
Beauty shed no tears. They reached the palace in a 
very few hours, and the horse, without bidding, went 
into the same stable as before. The merchant and 
Beauty walked towards the large hall, where they 
found a table covered with every dainty, and two plates 
laid ready. The merchant had very little appetite ; 
but Beauty, that she might the better hide her grief, 
placed herself at the table and helped her father ; she 
then began to eat herself, and thought all the time 
that to be sure the beast had a mind to fatten her 
before he ate her up, since he had provided such good 
cheer for her. When they had done their supper they 
heard a great noise, and the good old man began to bid 
his poor child farewell, for he knew it was the beast 
coming to them. When Beauty first saw that fright- 
ful form she was very much terrified, but tried to hide 
her fear. The creature walked up to her and eyed 
her all over, then asked her in a dreadful voice if she 
had come quite of her own accord. 

“ Yes,^’ said Beauty. 

Then you are a good girl, and I am very much 
obliged to you.^^ 


62 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


This was such an astonishingly civil answer that 
Beauty’s courage rose ; but it sank again when the 
beast, addressing the merchant, desired him to leave 
the palace the next morning and never return to it 
again. ^^And so good-night, merchant. And good- 
night, Beauty.” 

Good-night, beast,” she answered, as the monster 
shuffled out of the room. 

Ah ! my dear child,” said the merchant, kissing 
his daughter, I am half dead already at the thought 
of leaving you with this dreadful beast ; you shall go 
back and let me stay in your place.” 

No,” said Beauty boldly, I will never agree to 
that; you must go home to-morrow morning.” 

They then wished each other good-night and went 
to bed, both of them thinking they should not be able 
to close their eyes ; but as soon as ever they had lain 
down they fell into a deep sleep, and did not awake 
till morning. Beauty dreamed that a lady came up to 
her, who said, I am very much pleased. Beauty, with 
the goodness you have shown, in being willing to give 
your life to save that of your father. Do not be afraid 
of anything ; you shall not go without a reward.” 

As soon as Beauty awoke she told her father this 
dream ; but though it gave him some comfort, he 
was a long time before he could be persuaded to leave 
the palace. At last Beauty succeeded in getting him 
safely away. 

When her father was out of sight, poor Beauty 
began to weep sorely ; still, having naturally a coura- 
geous spirit, she soon resolved not to make her sad case 
still worse by sorrow, which she knew was vain, but 
to wait and be patient. She walked about to take a 
view of all the palace, and the elegance of every part 
of it much charmed her. 

But what was her surprise when she came to a 


BEAUTY AND TEIE BEAST. 


68 


door on which was written, Beauty’s room ! She 
opened it in haste, and her eyes were dazzled by the 
splendor and taste of the apartment. What made 
her wonder more than all the rest was a large library 
filled with books, a harpsichord, and many pieces of 
music. “ The beast surely does not mean to eat me 
up immediately,” said she, since he takes care I 
shall not be at a loss how to amuse myself.” She 
opened the library, and saw these verses written in 
letters of gold on the back of one of the books : 

% 

“ Beauteous lady, dry your tears, 

Here ’s no cause for sighs or fears. 

Command as freely as you may ; 

For you command and I obey.” 

“ Alas ! ” said she, sighing ; I wish I could only 
command a sight of my poor father, and to know 
what he is doing at this moment.” Just then, by 
chance, she cast her eyes on a looking-glass that stood 
near her, and in it she saw a picture of her old home, 
and her father riding mournfully up to the door. 
Her sisters came out to meet him, and, although they 
tried to look sorry, it was easy to see that in their 
hearts they were very glad. In a short time all this 
picture disappeared, but it caused Beauty to think 
that the beast, besides being very powerful, was also 
very kind. About the middle of the day she found a 
table laid ready for her, and a sweet concert of music 
played all the time she was dining, without her see- 
ing anybody. But at supper, when she was going to 
seat herself at table, she heard the noise of the beast, 
and could not help trembling with fear. 

Beauty,” said he, ‘‘ will you give me leave to see 
you sup ? ” 

That is as you please,” answered she, very much 
afraid. 


64 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Not in the least,” said the beast ; “ you alone 
command in this place. If you should not like my 
company, you need only say so, and I will leave you 
that moment. But tell me. Beauty, do you not think 
me very ugly?” 

a Why, yes,” said she, for I cannot tell a falsehood ; 
but then I think you are very good.” 

Am I ? ” sadly replied the beast ; yet, besides 
being ugly, I am also very stupid. I know well 
enough that I am but a beast.” 

“ Very stupid people,” said Beauty, • are never 
aware of it themselves.” 

At which kindly speech the beast looked pleased, and 
replied, not without an awkward sort of politeness. 

Pray do not let me detain you from supper, and be 
sure that you are well served. All you see is your 
own, and I should be deeply grieved if you wanted for 
anything.” 

You are very kind — so kind that I almost forgot 
you are so ugly,” said Beauty earnestly. 

^‘Ah, yes ! ” answered the beast with a great sigh ; I 
hope I am good-tempered, but still I am only a monster.” 

There is many a monster who wears the form of a 
man ; it is better of the two to have the heart of a man 
and the form of a monster.” 

I would thank you. Beauty, for this speech, but I 
am too senseless to say anything that would please 
you,” returned the beast in a melancholy voice ; and 
altogether he seemed so gentle and so unhappy that 
Beauty, who had the tenderest heart in the world, felt 
her fear of him gradually vanish. 

She ate her supper with a good appetite, and con- 
versed in her own sensible and charming way, till at 
last, when the beast rose to depart, he terrified her 
more than ever by saying abruptly, in his gruff voice, 

Beauty, will you marry me ? ” 


BEAUTY xiND THE BEAST. 


65 


Now Beauty, frightened as she was, would speak 
only the exact truth ; besides, her father had told her 
that the beast liked only to have the truth spoken to 
him. So she answered, in a very firm tone, No, 
beast.” 

He did not go into a passion, or do anything but 
sigh deeply and depart. 

When Beauty found herself alone, she began to feel 
pity for the poor beast. ‘‘ Oh ! ” said she, “ what a 
sad thing it is that he should be so very frightful, 
since he is so good-tempered ! ” 

Beauty lived three months in this palace, very well 
pleased. The beast came to see her every night, and 
talked with her while she supped ; and though what 
he said was not very clever, yet, as she saw in him 
every day some new goodness, instead of dreading the 
time of his coming she soon began continually looking 
at her watch to see if it were nine o’clock ; for that 
was the hour when he never failed to visit her. One 
thing only vexed her, which was that every night, 
before he went away, he always made it a rule to ask 
her if she would be his wife, and seemed very much 
grieved at her steadfastly replying “ No.” At last, one 
night, she said to him, “ You wound me greatly, beast, 
by forcing me to refuse you so often ; I wish I could 
take such a liking to you as to agree to marry you ; 
but I must tell you plainly that I do not think it will 
ever happen. I shall always be your friend ; so try 
to let that content you.” 

I must,” sighed the beast, for I know well enough 
how frightful I am ; but I love you better than myself. 
Yet I think I am very lucky in your being pleased to 
stay with me ; now promise me. Beauty, that you will 
never leave me.” 

Beauty would almost have agreed to this, so sorry 
was she for him, but she had that day seen in her 


66 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


magic glass, which she looked at constantly, that her 
father was dying of grief for her sake. 

Alas ! ” she said, “ I long so much to see my father 
that if you do not give me leave to visit him, I shall 
break my heart.’’ 

I would rather break mine. Beauty,” answered 
the beast ; I will send you to your father’s cottage ; 
you shall stay there, and your poor beast shall die of 
sorrow.” 

No,” said Beauty, crying, I love you too well to be 
the cause of your death ; I promise to return in a week. 
You have shown me that my sisters are married and 
my brothers are gone for soldiers, so that my father is 
left all alone. Let me stay a week with him.” 

‘•'You shall find yourself with him to-morrow morn- 
ing,” replied the beast ; “ but mind, do not forget your 
promise. When you wish to return, you have nothing 
to do but to put your ring on a table when you go to 
bed. Good-by, Beauty ! ” The beast sighed as he 
said these words, and Beauty went to bed very sorry 
to see him so much grieved. When she awoke in the 
morning she found herself in her father’s cottage. 
She rang a bell that was at her bedside, and a servant 
entered ; but as soon as she saw Beauty, the woman 
gave a loud shriek ; upon which the merchant ran up- 
stairs, and when he beheld his daughter he ran to her 
and kissed her a hundred times. At last Beauty began 
to remember that she had brought no clothes with her 
to put on ; but the servant told her she had just 
found in the next room a large chest full of dresses, 
trimmed all over with gold, and adorned with pearls 
and diamonds. 

Beauty, in her own mind, thanked the beast for his 
kindness, and put on the plainest gown she could find 
among them all. She then desired the servant to lay 
the rest aside, for she intended to give them to her 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. 


67 


sisters ; but as soon as she had spoken these words, 
the chest was gone out of sight in a moment. Her 
father then suggested, perhaps the beast chose for her 
to keep them all for herself ; and as soon as he had 
said this, they saw the chest standing again in the 
same place. While Beauty was dressing herself, a 
servant brought word to her that her sisters were come 
with their husbands to pay her a visit. They both 
lived unhappily with the gentlemen they had married. 
The husband of the eldest was very handsome, but 
was so proud of this that he thought of nothing else 
from morning till night, and did not care a pin for the 
beauty of his wife. The second had married a man 
of great learning ; but he made no use of it, except to 
torment and affront all his friends, and his wife more 
than any of them. The two sisters were ready to 
burst with spite when they saw Beauty dressed like a 
princess, and looking so very charming. All the kind- 
ness that she showed them was of no use ; for they 
were vexed more than ever when she told them how 
happy she lived at the palace of the beast. The spite- 
ful Creatures went by themselves into the garden, 
where they cried to think of her good fortune. 

Why should the little wretch be better off than 
we ? ” said they. We are much handsomer than 
she is.” 

Sister ! ” said the eldest, a thought has just 
come into my head : let us try to keep her here longer 
than the week for which the beast gave her leave, 
and then he will be so angry that perhaps when she 
goes back to him he will eat her up in a moment.” 

That is well thought of,” answered the other ; 
but to do this we must pretend to be very kind.” 

They then went to join her in the cottage, where 
they showed her so much false love that Beauty could 
not help crying for joy. 


68 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


When the week was ended, the two sisters began to 
pretend such grief at the thought of her leaving them 
that she agreed to stay a week more ; but all that time 
Beauty could not help fretting for the sorrow that 
she knew her absence would give her poor beast; 
for she tenderly loved him, and much wished for his 
company again. Among all the grand and clever 
people she saw she found nobody who was half so 
sensible, so affectionate, so thoughtful, or so kind. 
The tenth night of her being at the cottage she 
dreamed she was in the garden of the palace, that the 
beast lay dying on a grass-plot, and with his last 
breath put her in mind of her promise, and laid his 
death to her forsaking him. Beauty awoke in a great 
fright, and burst into tears. Am not I wicked,” 
said she, “ to behave so ill to a beast who has shown 
me so much kindness ? Why will not I marry 
him ? I am sure I should be more happy with him 
than my sisters are with their husbands. He shall 
not be wretched any longer on my account ; for I 
should do nothing but blame myself all the rest of 
my life.” 

She then rose, put her ring on the table, got into 
bed again, and soon fell asleep. In the morning she 
with joy found herself in the palace of the beast. 
She dressed herself very carefully, that she might 
please him the better, and thought she had never 
known a day pass away so slowly. At last the 
clock struck nine, but the beast did not come. Beauty, 
dreading lest she might truly have caused his death, 
ran from room to room, calling out, Beast, dear 
beast ; ” but there was no answer. At last she 
remembered her dream, rushed to the grass-plot, and 
there saw him lying apparently dead beside the foun- 
tain. Forgetting all his ugliness, she threw herself 
upon his body, and finding his heart still beat, she 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. 


69 


fetched some water and sprinkled it over him, weeping 
and sobbing the while. 

The beast opened his eyes : Yon forgot your 

promise, Beauty, and so I determined to die ; for I 
could not live without you. I have starved myself 
to death, but I shall die content since I have seen your 
face once more.’’ 

‘‘ No, dear beast,” cried Beauty passionately, “ you 
shall not die ; you shall live to be my husband. I . 
thought it was only friendship I felt for you, but now 
I know it was love.” 

The moment Beauty had spoken these words the 
palace was suddenly lighted up, and all kinds of 
rejoicings were heard around them, none of which she 
noticed, but hung over her dear beast with the utmost 
tenderness. At last, unable to restrain herself, she 
dropped her head over her hands, covered her eyes, 
and cried for joy ; and when she looked up again, 
the beast was gone. In his stead she saw at her feet 
a handsome, graceful young prince, who thanked her 
with the tenderest expressions for having freed him 
from enchantment. 

But where is my poor beast ? I only want him 
and nobody else,” sobbed Beauty. 

I am he,” replied the prince. “ A wicked fairy con- 
demned me to this form, and forbade me to show that 
I had any wit or sense till a beautiful lady should 
consent to marry me. You alone, dearest Beauty, 
judged me neither by my looks nor by my talents, but 
by my heart alone. Take it then, and all that I have 
besides, for all is yours.” 

Beauty, full of surprise, but very happy, suffered the 
prince to lead her to his palace, where she found her 
father and sisters, who had been brought there by the 
fairy-lady whom she had seen in a dream the first night 
she came. 


70 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Beauty,” said the fairy, you have chosen well, 
and you have your reward, for a true heart is better 
than either good looks or clever brains. As for you, 
ladies,” and she turned to the two elder sisters, I 
know all your ill deeds, bht I have no worse punish- 
ment for you than to see your sister happy. You shall 
stand as statues at the door of her palace, and when 
you repent of and have amended your faults, you shall 
become women again. But, to tell you the truth, I 
very much fear you will remain statues forever.” 


LITTLE ONE EYE, LITTLE TWO EYES, AND 
LITTLE THREE EYES. 

There was a woman who had three daughters, the 
eldes tof whom was called Little One Eye, because she ^ 
had only one eye in the middle of her forehead the ’ 
second. Little Two Eyes, because she had two eyes like 
other people ; and the youngest. Little Three Eyes, be- ' 
cause she had three eyes, one of them being also ip the 
middle of the forehead. But because Little Two Eyes ^ 
looked no different from other people, her sisters and ^ 
mother could not bear her. They said, You with i 
your two eyes are no better than anybody else ; you do j 
not belong to us.” They knocked her about, and gave j 
her shabby clothes, and food which was left over from j 
their own meals ; in short, they vexed her whenever j 
they could. | 

It happened that Little Two Eyes had to go out • \ 
into the fields to look after the goat ; but she was still | 
quite hungry, because her sisters had given her so 
little to eat. She sat down on a hillock and began to 
cry, and cried so much that two little streams ran down 
out of each eye. And as she looked up once in her 


LITTLE ONE EYE. 


71 


sorrow, a woman stood near her, who asked, Little 
Two Eyes, why do you cry ? ” 

Little Two Eyes answered, “ Have I not need to 
cry ? Because I have two eyes, like other people, 
my sisters and my mother cannot bear me ; they push 
me out of one corner into the other, give me shabby 
clothes, and nothing to eat but what they leave. To- 
day they have given me so little that I am still quite 
hungry.” 

The wise woman said, “ Little Two Eyes, dry your 
eyes, and I will tell you something which will keep 
you from ever being hungry more. Only say to your 
goat, ‘ Little goat, bleat ; little table, rise,’ and a neatly 
laid table will stand before you with the most delicious 
food on it, so that 'you can eat as much as you like. 
And when you are satisfied and do not want the table 
any more, only say, ‘ Little goat, bleat ; little table, 
away,’ and it will all disappear before your eyes.” 
Then the wise woman went out of sight. 

Little Two Eyes thought, I must try directly if it 
is true what she has said, for I am much too hungry 
to wait.” So she said, Little goat, bleat ; little 
table, rise ; ” and scarcely had she uttered the words 
when there stood before her a little table, covered with 
a white cloth, on which was laid a plate, knife and 
fork, and silver spoon. The most delicious food Avas 
there also, and smoking hot, as if just come from the 
kitchen. Then Little Two Eyes said the shortest 
grace that she knew, “ Lord God, be our Guest at all 
times — Amen,” began to eat, and found it very good. 
And when she had had enough, she said as the wise 
woman had taught her, Little goat, bleat ; little 
table, away.” In an instant the little table, and all 
that stood on it, had disappeared again. “ That is a 
beautiful, easy way of housekeeping,” thought Little 
Two Eyes, and was quite happy and merry. 


72 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Ill the evening, when she came home with her goat, 
she found a little earthern dish with food, which her 
sisters had put aside for her, but she did not touch 
anything — she had no need. On the next day she 
went out again with her goat, and let the few crusts 
that were given her remain uneaten. The first time 
and the second time the sisters took no notice ; but 
when the same thing happened every day, they 
remarked it, and said, All is not right with Little 
Two Eyes ; she always leaves her food, and she used 
formerly to eat up everything that was given her ; she 
must have found other ways of dining.’’ 

In order to discover the truth, they resolved that 
Little One Eye should go with Little Two Eyes when 
she drove the goat into the meadow, and see what she 
did there, and whether anybody brought her anything 
to eat and drink. So when Little Two Eyes set out 
again. Little One Eye came to her and said, I will 
go with you into the field, and see that the goat is 
taken proper care of, and driven to good pasture.” 

But Little Two Eyes saw what Little One Eye had in 
her mind, and drove the goat into long grass, saying, 
‘‘ Come, Little One Eye, we will sit down ; I will sing 
you something.” Little One Eye sat down, being tired 
from the unusual walk and from the heat of the sun, 
and Little Two Eyes kept on singing, ‘‘ Are you 
awake. Little One Eye? Are you asleep. Little One 
Eye ? ” Then Little One Eye shut her one eye and 
fell asleep. And when Little Two Eyes saw that 
Little One Eye was fast asleep, and could not betray 
anything, she said, Little goat, bleat ; little table, 
rise,” and sat herself at her table, and ate and drank 
till she was satisfied ; then she called out again. 

Little goat, bleat ; little table, away,” and instantly 
everything disappeared. 

Little Two Eyes now woke Little One Eye, and 



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LITTLE ONE EYE. 


73 


said, Little One Eye, you pretend to watch, and fall 
asleep over it, and in the meantime the goat could 
have run all over the world ; come, we will go home.’’ 
Then they went home, and Little Two Eyes let her 
little dish again stand untouched; and Little One 
Eye, who could not tell the mother why her sister 
would not eat, said, as an excuse, Oh, I fell asleep 
out there.” 

The next day the mother said to Little Three Eyes, 
This time you shall go and see if Little Two Eyes 
eats out-of-doors, and if anyone brings her food and 
drink, for she must eat and drink secretly.” 

Then Little Three Eyes went to Little Two Eyes, 
and said, I will go with you and see whether the 
goat is taken proper care of, and driven to good 
pasture.” But Little Two Eyes saw what Little 
Three Eyes had in her mind, and drove the goat into 
long grass, and said as before, ^‘We will sit down 
here. Little Three Eyes ; I will sing you something.” 
Little Three Eyes seated herself, being tired from the 
walk and the heat of the sun, and Little Two Eyes 
began the same song again, and sang, Are you 
awake, Little Three Eyes ? ” But instead of singing 
then as she should, “ Are you asleep. Little Three 
Eyes?” she sang, through carelessness, ^‘Are you 
asleep. Little Two Eyes?” and went on singing, 
Are you awake. Little Three Eyes ? Are you asleep. 
Little Two Eyes ? ” So the two eyes of Little Three 
Eyes fell asleep, but the third did not go to sleep, 
because it was not spoken to by the verse. Little 
Three Eyes, to be sure, shut it, and made believe to 
go to sleep, but only through slyness ; for she winked 
with it, and could see everything quite well. And 
when Little Two Eyes thought that Little Three 
Eyes was fast asleep, she said her little sentence. 
Little goat, bleat ; little table, rise,” ate and drank 


74 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


heartily, and then told the little table to go away 
again : Little goat, bleat ; little table, away.’’ But 
Little Three Eyes had seen everything. Then Little 
Two Eyes came to her, woke her, and said, Ah ! 
Little Three Eyes, have you been asleep ? You keep 
watch well ! Come, we will go home.” And when 
they got home. Little Two Eyes again did not eat, 
and Little Three Eyes said to the mother, I know 
why the proud thing does not eat : when she says to 
the goat out there, ^Little goat, bleat; little table, 
rise,’ there stands a table before her, which is covered 
with the very best food, much better than we have 
here ; and when she is satisfied, she says, ^ Little goat, 
bleat ; little table, away,’ and everything is gone again ; 
I have seen it all exactly. She put two of my eyes to 
sleep with her little verse, but the one on my forehead 
luckily remained awake.” 

Then the envious mother cried out, Shall she be 
better off than we are ? ” fetched a butcher’s knife and 
stuck it into the goat’s heart, so that it fell down dead. 

When Little Two Eyes saw that, she went out full 
of grief, seated herself on a hillock, and wept bitter 
tears. All at once the wise woman stood near her 
again, and said, Little Two Eyes, why do you cry ? ” 
Shall I not cry ? ” answered she. The goat 
who every day, when I said your little verse, laid the 
table so beautifully has been killed by my mother ; 
now I must suffer hunger and thirst again.” 

The wise woman said, Little Two Eyes, I will give 
you some good advice : beg your sisters to give you 
the heart of the murdered goat, and bury it in the 
ground before the house door, and it will turn out 
lucky for you.” Then she disappeared, and Little 
Two Eyes went home and said to her sisters, Dear 
sisters, give me some part of my goat ; I don’t ask 
for anything good, only give me the heart.” 


LITTLE ONE EYE. 


75 


Then they laughed, and said, “ You can have that, 
if you do not want anything else.’’ Little Two Eyes 
took the heart, and buried it quietly in the evening 
before the house door, after the advice of the wise 
woman. 

Next morning, when the sisters woke and went to 
the house door together, there stood a most wonderful, 
splendid tree, with leaves of silver, and fruit of gold 
hanging between them. Nothing more beautiful or 
charming could be seen in the wide world. But they 
did not know how the tree had come there in the 
night. Little Two Eyes alone noticed that it had 
grown out of the heart of the goat, for it stood just 
where she had buried it in the ground. 

Then the mother said to Little One Eye, Climb up, 
my child, and gather us some fruit from the tree.” 

Little One Eye climbed up, but when she wanted to 
seize a golden apple, the branch sprang out of her 
hand. This happened every time, so that she could not 
gather a single apple, though she tried as much as she 
could. , 

Then the mother said, Little Three Eyes, do you 
climb up ; you can see better about you with your 
three eyes than Little One Eye can.” 

Little One Eye scrambled down, and Little Three 
Eyes climbed up. But Little Three Eyes was no 
cleverer, and might look about her as much as she 
liked — the golden apples always sprang back from 
her grasp. At last the mother became impatient and 
climbed up herself, but could touch the fruit, just as 
little as Little One Eye or Little Three Eyes ; she 
always grasped the empty air. 

Then Little Two Eyes said, I will go up myself ; 
perhaps I shall prosper better.” 

“ You ! ” cried the sisters. With your two eyes, 
what can you do ? 


76 


THE FAIRY BOOK. . 


But Little Two Eyes climbed up, and the golden 
apples did not spring away from her, but dropped of 
themselves into her hand, so that she could gather 
one after the other, and brought down a whole apron 
full. Her mother took them from her, and instead of 
her sisters, Little One Eye and Little Three Eyes, 
behaving better to poor Little Two Eyes for it, they 
were only envious because she alone could get the 
fruit, and behaved still more cruelly to her. 

It happened, as they stood together by the tree one 
day, that a young knight came by. 

“ Quick, Little Two Eyes,” cried the two sisters, 
creep under, so that we may not be ashamed of 
you ; ” and threw over poor Little Two Eyes, in a 
great hurry, an empty cask that stood just by the 
tree, and pushed also beside her the golden apples 
which she had broken off. 

Now, as the knight came nearer he proved to be 
a handsome prince, who stood still, admired the beau- 
tiful tree of gold and silver, and said to the two sis- 
ters : ^ 

“ To whom does this beautiful tree belong ? She 
who gives me a branch of it shall have whatever she 
wishes.” 

Then Little One Eye and Little Three Eyes an- 
swered that the tree was theirs, and they would 
break off a branch for him. They both of them 
gave themselves a great deal of trouble, but it was no 
use, for the branches and fruit sprang back from them 
every time. Then the knight said ; 

It is very wonderful that the tree belongs to you, 
and yet you have not the power of gathering anything 
from it.” 

They insisted, however, that the tree was their own 
property. But as they spoke Little Two Eyes rolled 
a few golden apples from under the cask, so that they 


LITTLE ONE EYE. 


77 


ran to the feet of the knight ; for Little Two Eyes 
was angry that Little 'One Eye and Little Three Eyes 
did not tell the truth. 

When the knight saw the apples he was astonished, 
and asked where they came from. Little One Eye 
and Little Three Eyes answered that they had an- 
other sister, who might not, however, show herself, 
because she had only two eyes, like other common 
people. But the knight desired to see her, and called 
out, Little Two Eyes, come out.'’ Then Little Two 
Eyes came out of the cask quite comforted, and the 
knight was astonished at her great beauty, and 
said : 

You, Little Two Eyes, can certainly gather me a 
branch from the tree?” 

Yes,” answered Little Two Eyes, I can do that, 
for the tree belongs to me.” And she climbed up 
and easily broke off a branch, with its silver leaves 
and golden fruity and handed it to the knight. 

Then the knight said, Little Two Eyes, what 
shall I give you for it ? ” 

Oh,” answered Little Two Eyes, I suffer hunger 
and thirst, sorrow and want, from early morning till 
late evening ; if you would take me with you and 
free me, I should be happy.” 

Then the knight lifted Little Two Eyes on to his 
horse, and took her home to his paternal castle ; there 
he gave her beautiful clothes, food and drink as much 
as she wanted, and because he loved her so much he 
married her, and the marriage was celebrated with 
great joy. 

Now, when Little Two Eyes was taken away by the 
handsome knight, the two sisters envied her very 
much her happiness. The wonderful tree remains 
for us, though,” thought they ; and even though we 
cannot gather any fruit off it, every one will stand 


78 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


still before it, come to us, and praise it.” But the 
next morning the tree bad disappeared, and all their 
hopes with it. 

Little Two Eyes lived happy a long time. Once 
two poor women came to her at the castle and begged 
alms. Then Little Two Eyes looked in their faces 
and recognized her sisters. Little One Eye and Little 
Three Eyes, who had fallen into such poverty that 
they had to wander about and seek their bread from 
door to door. Little Two Eyes, however, bade them 
welcome, and was very good to them, and took care 
of them ; for they both repented from their hearts the 
evil they had done to their sister in their youth. 


JACK THE GIANT-KILLER. 

In the reign of the famous King Arthur there 
lived, near the Land’s End of England, in the county 
of Cornwall, a worthy farmer, who had an only son 
named Jack. Jack was a boy of a bold temper; he 
took pleasure in hearing or reading stories of wizards, 
conjurors, giants, and fairies, and used to listen 
eagerly while his father talked of the great deeds of 
the brave knights of King Arthur’s Round Table. 
When Jack was sent to take care of the sheep and 
oxen in the fields, he used to amuse himself with 
planning battles, sieges, and the means to conquer or 
surprise a foe. He was above the common sports of 
children, but hardly any one could equal him at 
wrestling ; or, if he met with a match for himself in 
strength, his skill and address always made him the 
victor. In those days there lived on St. Michael’s 
Mount, of Cornwall, which rises out of the sea at 
some distance from the mainland, a huge giant. He 


JACK THE GIANT-KILLER. 


79 


was eighteen feet high and three yards round ; and 
his fierce and savage looks were the terror of all his 
neighbors. He dwelt in a gloomy cavern on the very 
top of the mountain, and used to wade over to the 
mainland in search of his prey. When he came near, 
the people left their houses ; and after he had glutted 
his appetite upon their cattle, he would throw half a 
dozen oxen upon his back, and tie three times as 
many sheep and hogs round his waist, and so march 
back to his own abode. The giant had done this for 
many years, and the coast of Cornwall was greatly 
hurt by his thefts, when Jack boldly resolved to 
destroy him. He therefore took a horn, a shovel, a 
pickaxe, and a dark lantern, and, early in a long 
winter’s evening, he swam to the Mount. There he 
fell to work at once, and before morning he had dug 
a pit twenty-two feet deep and almost as many broad. 
He covered it over wdth sticks and straw, and strewed 
some of the earth over them, to make it look just like 
solid ground. He then put his horn to his mouth, 
and blew such a loud and long tantivy that the giant 
awoke and came towards Jack, roaring like thunder; 

You saucy villain, you shall pay dearly for breaking 
my rest ; I will broil you for my breakfast.” He had 
scarcely spoken these words, when he came advancing 
one step further ; but then he tumbled headlong into 
the pit, and his fall ^hook the very mountain. 

Oh, ho, Mr. Giant ! ” said Jack, looking into the 
pit, have you found your way so soon to the bottom ? 
How is your appetite now ? Will nothing serve you 
for breakfast this cold morning but broiling poor 
Jack ? ” 

The giant now tried to rise, but J ack struck him a 
blow on the crown of the head with his pickaxe, which 
killed him at once. Jack then made haste back, to 
rejoice his friends with the news of the giant’s death. 


80 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


When the justices of Cornwall heard of this valiant 
action, they sent for Jack and declared that he should 
always be called Jack the Giant Killer; and they 
also gave him a sword and belt, upon which was 
written, in letters of gold : 

This is the valiant Cornishman 

Who slew the giant Cormoran.” 

The news of Jack’s exploits soon spread over the 
western parts of England ; and another giant, called 
Old Blunderbore, vowed to have revenge on Jack, if it 
should ever be his fortune to get him into his power. 
The giant kept an enchanted castle in the midst of a 
lonely wood. About four months after the death of 
Cormoran, as Jack was taking a journey into Wales 
he jiassed through this wood ; and as he was very 
weary, he sat down to rest by the side of a pleasant 
fountain, and there he fell into a deep sleep. The 
giant came to the fountain for water just at this time, 
and found Jack there ; and as the lines on Jack’s belt 
showed who he was, the giant lifted him up and laid 
him gently upon his shoulder, to carry him to his 
castle; but as he passed through the thicket, the 
rustling of the leaves waked Jack ; and he was sadly 
afraid when he found himself in the clutches of 
Blunderbore. Yet this was nothing to his fright soon 
after ; for when they reached the pastle, he beheld the 
floor covered all over with the skulls and bones of 
men and women. The giant took him into a large 
room, where lay the hearts and limbs of persons who 
had been lately killed; and he told Jack, with a 
horrid grin, that men’s hearts, eaten with pepper and 
vinegar, were his nicest food, and also that he 
thought he should make a dainty meal on his heart. 
When he had said this, he locked Jack up in that 
room, while he went to fetch another giant, who lived 


JACK THE GIANT-KILLER. 


81 


ill the same wood, to enjoy a dinner off Jack’s flesh 
with him. While he was away, Jack heard dreadful 
shrieks, groans, and cries from many parts of the 
castle; and soon after he heard a mournful voice 
repeat these lines : 

“ Haste, valiant stranger, haste away. 

Lest you become the giant’s prey ; 

On his return he ’ll bring another. 

Still more savage than his brother : 

A horrid, cruel monster, who, 

Before he kills, will torture you. 

Oh, valiant stranger ! haste away. 

Or you ’ll become these giants’ prey.” 

This warning was so’ shocking to poor Jack that he 
was ready to go mad. He ran to the window, and 
saw the two giants coming along arm in arm. This 
window was right over the gates of the castle. 

How,” thought Jack, either my death or freedom 
is at hand.” 

There were two strong cords in the room. Jack 
made a large noose, with a slip-knot -at the ends, of 
both these, and as the giants were coming through 
the gates, he threw the ropes over their heads. He 
then made the other ends fast to a beam in the ceil- 
ing, and pulled with all his might, till he had almost 
strangled them. When he saw that they were both 
quite black in the face, and had not the least strength 
left, he drew his sword and slid doAvn the ropes ; he 
then killed the giants, and thus saved himself from a 
cruel death. Jack next took a great bunch of keys 
from the pocket of Blunderbore, and went into the castle 
again. He made a strict search through all the rooms, 
and in them found three ladies tied up by the hair 
of their heads, and almost starved to death. They 
told him that their husbands had been killed by the 
giants, who had then condemned them to be starved 


82 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


to death, because they would not eat the flesh of 
their own dead husbands. 

Ladies,’^ said Jack, “I have put an end to the 
monster and his wicked brother ; and I give you this 
castle and all the riches it contains, to make you 
some amends for the dreadful pains you have felt.’’ 
He then very politely gave them the keys of the 
castle, and went further on his journey to Wales. 

As Jack had not taken any of the giant’s riches 
for himself, and had very little money of his own, 
he thought it best to travel as fast as he could. At 
length he lost his way ; and when night came on, he 
was in a lonely valley between two lofty mountains. 
There he walked about for some hours without seeing 
any dwelling-place, so he thought himself very lucky 
at last in finding a large and handsome house. He 
went up to it boldly and knocked loudly at the gate, 
when, to his great terror and surprise, there came 
forth a monstrous giant with two heads. He spoke 
to Jack very civilly, for he was a Welsh giant, and all 
the mischief he -did was by private and secret malice, 
under the show of friendship and kindness. Jack 
told him that he was a traveller who had lost his 
way ; on which the huge monster made him welcome, 
and led him into a room where there was a good bed 
ill which to pass the night. Jack took off his clothes 
quickly ; but though he was so weary, he could not go 
to sleep. Soon after this, he heard the giant walking 
backward and forward in the next room, and saying 
to himself : 

“ Though here you lodge with me this night, 

You shall not see the morning light; 

My club shall dash your brains out quite.” 

Say you so?” thought Jack. “Are these your 
tricks upon travellers ? But I hope to prove as cun- 


JACK THE GIANT-KILLEK. 


83 


ning as you.” Then, getting out of bed, he groped 
about the room, and at last found a large thick billet 
of wood ; he laid it in his own place in the bed, and hid 
himself in a dark corner of the room. In the middle 
of the night the giant came with his great club, and 
struck many heavy blows on the bed, in the very 
place where Jack had laid the billet, and then he 
went back to his own room, thinking he had broken 
all his bones. Early in the morning Jack put a bold 
face upon the matter, and walked into the giant^s 
room to thank him for his lodging. 

The giant started when he saw him, and he began 
to stammer out, Oh, dear me ! Is it you ? Pray how 
did you sleep last night ? Did you hear or see any- 
thing in the dead of the night ? ” 

Nothing worth speaking of,” said Jack care- 
lessly ; a rat, I believe, gave three or four slaj)s with 
his tail and disturbed me a little, but I soon went to 
sleep again.” 

The giant wondered more and more at this ; yet he 
did not answer a word, and went to bring two great 
bowls of hasty-pudding for their breakfast. 

Jack wished to make the giant believe that he 
could eat as much as himself ; so he contrived to button 
a leathern bag inside his coat, and slipped the hasty- 
pudding into this bag, while he seemed to put it into 
his mouth. When breakfast was over he said to the 
giant, Now I will show you a fine trick ; I can cure 
all wounds with a touch ; I could cut off my head one 
minute, and the next put it sound again on my 
shoulders. You shall see an example.” He then took 
hold of the knife, ripped up the leathern bag, and all 
the hasty-pudding tumbled out upon the fioor. 

Ods splutter hur nails,” cried the Welsh giant, who 
was ashamed to be outdone by such a little fellow as 
Jack j “ hur can do that hurself.” So he snatched up 


84 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


the knife, plunged it into his stomach, and in a moment 
dropped down dead. 

As soon as Jack had thus tricked the Welsh monster, 
he went further on his journey ; and a few days after, 
he met with King Arthur’s only son, who had got his 
father’s leave to travel into Wales, to deliver a beauti- 
ful lady from the power of a wicked magician, by whom 
she was held in enchantment. When Jack found that 
the young prince had no servants with him, he begged 
leave to attend him ; and the prince at once agreed to 
this, and gave Jack many thanks for his kindness. 

King Arthur’s son was a handsome, polite, and brave 
knight, and so good-natured that he gave money to 
everybody he met. At length he gave his last penny 
to an old woman, and then turned to Jack, How shall 
we be able to get food for ourselves the rest of our 
journey ? ” 

Leave that to me, sir,” replied Jack; will 
provide for my prince.” 

Kight now came on, and the prince began to grow 
uneasy at thinking where they should lodge. 

Sir,” said Jack, ^^be of good heart; two miles 
further there lives a large giant, whom I know well ; 
he has three heads, and will fight five hundred men, 
and make them fly before him.” 

Alas ! ” cried the king’s son, we had better never 
have been born than meet with such a monster.” 

My lord, leave me to manage him, and wait here 
in quiet till I return.” 

The prince now stayed behind, while Jack rode on 
at full speed ; and when he came to the gates of the 
castle, he gave a loud knock. The giant, with a voice 
like thunder, roared out, Who is there ? ” 

Jack made answer, and said, ^^Ko one but your poor 
cousin* J ack.” 

Weil,” said the giant, what news, cousin Jack ? ” 


JACK THE GIANT-KILLER. 


85 


^^Dear uncle/’ said Jack, ^‘1 have heavy news.” 

‘‘ Pooh ! ” said the giant, what heavy news can come 
to me ? I am a giant with three heads, and can fight 
five hundred men, and make them fly before me.” 

Alas! ” said Jack, ^^here is the king’s son coming 
with two thousand men to kill you, and to destroy the 
castle and all that you have.” 

Oh, cousin Jack,” said the giant, ^Hhis is heavy 
news indeed ! But I have a large cellar underground, 
where I will hide myself, and you shall lock, bolt, and 
bar me in, and keep the keys till the king’s son is 
gone.” 

Now, when Jack had barred the giant fast in the 
vault, he went back and fetched the prince to the castle. 
They both made themselves merry with the wine and 
other dainties that were in the house. So that night 
they rested very pleasantly, while the poor giant lay 
trembling and shaking with fear in the cellar under- 
ground. Early in the morning Jack gave the king’s 
son gold and silver out of the giant’s treasure, and 
accompanied him three miles forward on his journey. 
The prince then sent Jack to let his uncle out of the 
hole, who asked him what he should give him as a 
reward for saving his castle. 

Why, good uncle,” said Jack, I desire nothing 
but the old coat and cap, with the old rusty sword and 
slippers, which are hanging at your bed’s head.” 

Then,” said the giant, ^^you shall have them; and 
pray keep them for my sake, for they are things of 
great use. The coat will keep you invisible, the cap 
will give you knowledge, the sword will cut through 
anything, and the shoes are of vast swiftness ; they 
may be useful to you in all times of danger, so take 
them with all my heart.” 

Jack gave many thanks to the giant, and then set off 
to the prince. AVhen he had come up with the king’s 


86 


THE EAIEY BOOK. 


son, they soon arrived at the dwelling of the beautiful 
lady who was under the power of a wicked magician. 
She received the prince very politely, and made a noble 
feast for him ; when it was ended she rose, and, wiping 
her mouth with a fine handkerchief, said, My lord, 
you must submit to the custom of my palace ; to-morrow 
morning I command you to tell me on whom I bestow 
this handkerchief, or lose your head.’^ She then left 
the room. 

The young prince went to bed very mournful, but 
Jack put on his cap of knowledge, which told him that 
the lady was forced, by the power of enchantment, to 
meet the wicked magician every night in the middle of 
the forest. Jack now put on his coat of darkness and 
his shoes of swiftness, and was there before her. When 
the lady came, she gave the handkerchief to the magi- 
cian. Jack, with his sword of sharpness, at one blow 
cut off his head ; the enchantment was then ended in 
a moment, and the lady was restored to her former 
virtue and goodness. She was married to the prince 
on the next day, and soon after went back, with her 
royal husband and a great company, to the court of 
King Arthur, where they were received with loud and 
joyful welcomes; and the valiant hero Jack, for the 
many great exploits he had done for the good of his 
country, was made one of the Knights of the Kound 
Table. 

As J ack had been so lucky in all his adventures, he 
resolved not to be idle for the future, but still to do 
what services he could for the honor of the king and 
the nation. He therefore humbly begged his majesty 
to furnish him with a horse and money, that he might 
trav>el in search of new and strange exploits. For,’’ 
said he to the king, “ there are many giants yet living 
. in the remote parts of Wales, to the great terror and 
distress of your majesty’s subjects; therefore, if it 


JACK THE GIANT-KILLER. 


87 


please you, sire, to favor me in my design, I will soon 
rid your kingdom of these giants and monsters in 
human shape. 

Now when the king heard his offer, and began to 
think of the cruel deeds of these bloodthirsty giants 
and savage monsters, he gave Jack everything proper 
for such a journey. After this Jack took leave of the 
king, the prince, and all the knights, and set off, tak- 
ing with him his cap of knowledge, his sword of sharp- 
ness, his shoes of swiftness, and his invisible coat, the 
better to perform the great exploits that might fall in 
his way. He went along over hills and mountains, 
and on the third day he came to a wide forest. He 
had hardly entered it, w^hen on a sudden he heard 
dreadful shrieks and cries, and forcing his way through 
the trees, saw a monstrous giant dragging along, by 
the hair of their heads, a handsome knight and a 
beautiful lady. Their tears and cries melted the heart 
of honest Jack ; he alighted from his horse, and, tying 
him to an oak-tree, put on his invisible coat, under 
which he carried his sword of sharpness. 

When he came up to the giant, he made several 
strokes at him, but could not reach his body, on 
account of the enormous height of the terrible creature ; 
but he wounded his thighs in several places ; and at 
length, putting both hands to his sword, and aiming 
with all his might, he cut off both the giant’s legs just 
below the garter ; and the trunk of his body, tumbling 
to the ground, made not only the trees shake, but the 
earth itself tremble, with the force of his fall. Then 
Jack, setting his foot upon his neck, exclaimed : 

Thou barbarous and savage wretch, behold, I come 
to execute upon thee the just reward for all thy 
crimes ; ” and instantly plunged his sword into the 
giant’s body. The huge monster gave a groan, and 
yielded up his life into the hands of the victorious Jack 


88 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


the Giant-Killer, whilst the noble knight and the virt- 
uous lady were both joyful spectators of his sudden 
death. They not only returned J ack hearty thanks 
for their deliverance, but also invited him to their house 
to refresh himself after his dreadful encounter, as like- 
wise to receive a reward for his good service. 

No,” said Jack, “ I cannot be at ease till I find 
out the den that was the monster’s habitation.” 

The knight, on hearing this, grew very sorrowful, 
and replied : Noble stranger, it is too much to run a 
second hazard. This monster lived in a den under 
yonder mountain, with a brother of his more fierce 
and cruel than himself ; therefore, if you should go 
thither and perish in the attempt, it would be a heart- 
breaking thing to me and my lady ; so let me persuade 
you to go back with us, and desist from any farther 
pursuit.” 

Nay,” answered Jack, if there be another, even if 
there were twenty, I would shed the last drop of blood 
in my body before one of them should escape. When 
I have finished this task I will come and pay my re- 
spects to you.” 

So when they had told him where to find them 
again, he got on his horse and went after the dead 
giant’s brother. 

Jack had not ridden a mile and a half before he 
came in sight of the mouth of the cavern ; and nigh 
the entrance of it, he saw the other giant sitting on a 
huge block of timber, with a knotted iron club lying 
by his side, waiting for his brother. His eyes looked 
like flames of fire, his face was grim and ugly, and his 
cheeks were like two flitches of bacon ; the bristles of 
his beard seemed to be thick rods of iron wire ; and 
his long locks of hair hung down upon his broad 
shoulders like curling snakes. Jack got down from 
his horse and turned him into a thicket ; then he put 



“He saw a Monstrous Giant.” 







^ rv ! ih t ‘J' f A • • ^ 



JACK THE GIANT-KILLER. 


80 


on his coat of darkness and drew a little nearer to 
behold this figure, and said softly, Oh, monster ! are 
you there ? It will not be long before I shall take 
you fast by the beard.” 

The giant all this while could not see him, by reason 
of his invisible coat ; so Jack came quite close to him, 
and struck a blow at his head with his sword of sharp- 
ness ; but he missed his aim and only cut off his nose, 
which made him roar like loud claps of thunder. He 
rolled his glaring eyes round on every side, but could 
not see who had given him the blow ; so he took up 
his iron club, and began to lay about him like one that 
was mad with pain and fury. 

‘^Nay,” said Jack, if this be the case, I will kill 
you at once.” So saying, he slipped nimbly behind 
him, and jumping upon the block of timber as the 
giant rose from it, he stabbed him in the back, when, 
after a few howls, he dropped down dead. Jack cut 
off his head and sent it, with the head of his brother, 
to King Arthur, by a wagon which he had hired for 
that purpose. When Jack had thus killed these two 
monsters, he went into their cave in search of their 
treasure. He passed through many turnings and wind- 
ings, which led him to a room paved with freestone ; 
at the end of it was a boiling caldron, and on the 
right hand stood a large table, where the giants used 
to dine. He then came to a window that was secured 
with iron bars, through which he saw a number of 
wretched captives, who cried out when they saw J ack ; 

Alas ! alas ! young man, you are come to be one among 
us in this horrid den.” 

I hope,” said Jack, you will not stay here long ; 
but pray tell me what is the meaning of your being 
here at ali ? ” 

Alas ! ” said one poor old man, I will tell you, 
sir. We are persons that have been taken by the 


90 


THE FAIRY ROOK. 


giants who hold this cave, and are kept till they choose 
to have a feast ; then one of ns is to be killed, and 
cooked to please their taste. It is not long since they 
took three for the same pnrpose.^^ 

Well,’^ said Jack, have given them such a 
dinner that it will be long enough before they have 
any more.” 

The captives were amazed at his words. 

“Yon may believe me,” said Jack, “for I have 
killed them both with the edge of this sword, and have 
sent their large heads to the court of King Arthur, as 
marks of my great success.” 

To show that what he said was true, he unlocked 
the gate and set the captives all free. Then he led 
them to the great room, placed them round the table, 
and placed before them two quarters of beef, with 
bread and wine, upon which they feasted their till. 
When supper was over they searched the giants’ cof- 
fers, and Jack divided among them all the treasures. 
The next morning they set off to their homes, and Jack 
to the knight’s house, whom he had left with his lady 
not long before. 

He was received with the greatest joy by the thank- 
ful knight and his lady, who, in honor of Jack’s ex- 
ploits, gave a grand feast, to which all the nobles and 
gentry were invited. When the company were assem- 
bled, the knight declared to them the great actions of 
Jack, and gave him, as a mark of respect, a line ring, 
on which was engraved the picture of the giant drag- 
ging the knight and lady by the hair, with this motto 
round it : 

“ Behold, in dire distress were we, 

Under a giant’s fierce command ; 

But gain’d our lives and liberty 

From valiant Jack’s victorious hand.” 


Among the guests then present were live aged gen- 


JACK THE GIANT-KILLER. 91 

tlemeii, wlio were fathers to some of those captives 
who had been freed by Jack from the dungeon of the 
giants. As soon as they heard that he was the person 
who had done such wonders, they pressed round him 
with tears of joy, to return him thanks for the happi- 
ness he had caused them. After this the bowl went 
round, and every one drank the health and long life 
of the gallant hero. Mirth increased, and the hall was 
filled with peals of laughter. But, on a sudden, a 
herald, pale and breathless, rushed into the midst of 
the company, and told them that Thundel, a savage 
giant with two heads, had heard of the death of his 
two kinsmen, and was come to take his revenge on 
Jack, and that he was now within a mile of the house, 
the people flying before him like chaff before the 
wind. At this news the very boldest of the guests 
trembled; but Jack drew his sword, and said, “Let 
him come, I have a rod for him also. Pray, ladies and 
gentlemen, do me the favor to walk into the garden, 
and you shall soon behold the giant’s defeat and 
death.” 

To this they all agreed, and heartily wished him 
success in his dangerous attempt. 

The knight’s house stood in the middle of a moat, 
thirty feet deep and twenty wide, over which lay a 
drawbridge. Jack set men to work to cut the bridge 
on both sides, almost to the middle, and then dressed 
himself in his coat of darkness and went against the 
giant with his sword of sharpness. As he came close 
to him, though the giant could not see him for his in- 
visible coat, yet he found some danger was near, which 
made him cry out : 

“ Fa, fe„fi, fo, fum, 

I smeli the blood of an Englishman ; 

Let him be alive, or let him be dead, 

I ’ll grind his bones to make me bread.” 


92 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Say you so, my friend ?” said Jack; ^^you are a 
monstrous miller, indeed ! ” 

Art thou,” cried the giant, “ the villain that killed 
my kinsmen ? Then I will tear thee with my teeth, 
and grind thy bones to powder.” 

“ You must catch me first,” said Jack ; and throwing ’ 
off his coat of darkness and putting on his shoes of 
swiftness, he began to run, the giant following him like 
a walking castle, making the earth shake at every step. 

Jack led him round and round the walls of the 
house, that the company might see the monster ; then, 
to finish the work, he ran over the drawbridge, the 
giant going after him with his club ; but when he 
came to the middle, where the bridge had been cut on 
both sides, the great weight of his body made it break, 
and he tumbled into the water, where he rolled about 
like a large whale. J ack now stood by the side of the 
moat, and laughed and jeered at him, saying, think 
you told me you would grind my bones to powder ; 
when will you begin ? ” 

The giant foamed at both his horrid mouths with 
fury, and plunged from side to side of the moat ; but 
he could not get out to have revenge on his little foe. 
At last Jack ordered a cart-rope to be brought to him; 
he then drew it over his two heads, and by the help 
of a team of horses dragged him to the edge of the 
moat, where he cut off his heads, and before he 
either ate or drank sent them both to the court of 
King A^-thur. He then went back to the table with 
the company, and the rest of the day was spent in 
mirth and good cheer. 

After staying with the knight for some time. Jack 
grew weary of such an idle life, and set out again in 
search of new adventures. He went over hills and 
dales without meeting any, till he came to the foot of 
a very high mountain. Here he knocked at the door 


JACK THE GIANT-KILLER. 


93 


of a small and lonely house, and an old man, with a 
head as white as snow, let him in. 

^^Good father,’’ said Jack, can you lodge a trav- 
eller who has lost his way ? ” 

Yes,” said the hermit, I can, if you will accept 
such fare as my poor house affords.” 

Jack entered, and the old man set before him some 
bread and fruit for his supper. When Jack had 
eaten as much as he chose, the hermit said : My 
son, I know you are the famous conqueror of giants. 
Now, at the top of this mountain is an enchanted castle, 
kept by a giant named Galligantus, who, by the help 
of a vile magician, gets many knights into his castle, 
where he changes them into the shape of beasts. 
Above all, I lament the hard fate of a duke’s daughter, 
whom they seized as she was walking in her father’s 
garden, and brought hither through the air in a chariot 
drawn by two fiery dragons, and turned her into the 
shape of a deer. Many knights have tried to destroy 
the enchantment and deliver her, yet none have been 
able to do it, by reason of two fiery griffins who guard 
the gate of the castle, and destroy all who come nigh ; 
but as you, my son, have an invisible coat, you may 
pass by them without being seen ; and on the gates of 
the castle you will find engraved by what means the 
enchantment may be broken.” 

Jack promised that in the morning, at the risk of 
his life, he would break the enchantment ; and after 
a sound sleep he arose early, put on his invisible 
coat, and got ready for the attempt. When he had 
climbed to the top of the mountain he saw the two 
fiery griffins ; but he passed between them without the 
least fear of danger, for they could not see him 
because of his invisible coat. On the castle gate he 
found a golden trumpet, under which were written 
these lines : 


94 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


“ Whoever can this trumpet blow 
Shall cause the giant’s overthrow.” 

As soon as Jack had read this, he seized the trum- 
pet and blew a shrill blast, which made the gates fly 
open and the very castle itself tremble. The giant 
and the conjurer now knew that their wicked course 
was at an end, and they stood biting their thumbs 
and shaking with fear. Jack, with his sword of 
sharpness, soon killed the giant, and the magician 
was then carried away by a whirlwind. All the 
knights and beautiful ladies, who had been changed 
into birds and beasts, returned to their proper shapes. 
The castle vanished away like smoke, and the head of 
the giant Galligantus was sent to King Arthur. The 
knights and ladies rested that night at the old man’s 
hermitage, and next day they set out for the court. 
Jack then went up to the king, and gave his majesty 
an account of all his flerce battles. Jack’s fame had 
spread through the whole country, and at the king’s 
desire the duke gave him his daughter in marriage, 
to the joy of all the kingdom. After this the king 
gave him a large estate, on which he and his lady 
lived the rest of their days in joy and content. 


TOM THUMB. 

In the days of King Arthur, Merlin, the most 
learned enchanter of his time, was on a journey; and 
being very weary, stopped one day at the cottage of 
an honest ploughman to ask for refreshment. The 
ploughman’s wife, with great civility, immediately 
brought him some milk in a wooden bowl, and some 
brown bread on a wooden platter. Merlin could not 
help observing that although everything within the 


TOM THUMB. 


95 


cottage was particularly neat and clean and in good 
order, the ploughman and his wife had the most 
sorrowful air imaginable ; so he questioned them on 
the cause of their melancholy, and learned that they 
were very miserable because they had no children. 
The poor woman declared, with tears in her eyes, 
that she should be the happiest creature in the world 
if she had a son, although he were no bigger than his 
father’s thumb. Merlin was much amused with the 
notion of a boy no bigger than a man’s thumb ; and 
as soon as he returned home he sent for the queen of 
the fairies (with whom he was very intimate), and 
related to her the desire of the ploughman and his 
wife to have a son the size of his father’s thumb. 
She liked the plan exceedingly, and declared their 
wish should be speedily granted. Accordingly the 
ploughman’s wife had a son, who in a few minutes 
grew as tall as his father’s thumb. The queen of the 
fairies came in at the window as the mother was 
sitting up in bed admiring the child. Her majesty 
kissed the infant, and, giving it the name of Tom 
Thumb, immediately summoned several fairies from 
Fairyland, to clothe her new little favorite ; 

“ An oak-leaf hat he had for his crown ; 

His shirt it was by spiders spun ; 

With doublet wove of thistledown, 

His trousers up with points were done ; 

His stockings, of apple-rind, they tie 
With eye-lash pluck’d from his mother’s eye ; 

His shoes were made of a mouses’ skin, 

Nicely tann’d with hair within.” 

Tom was never any bigger than his father’s thumb, 
which was not a large thumb neither ; but as he grew 
older he became very cunning, for which his mother 
did not sufficiently correct him, and by this ill quality 
he was often brought into difficulties, For instance. 


96 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


when he had learned to play with other boys for, 
cherry-stones, and had lost all his own, he used to 
creep into the boys’ bags, fill his pockets, and come 
out again to play. But one day as he was getting 
out of a bag of cherry-stones, the boy to whom it 
belonged chanced to see him. 

Ah, ha, my little Tom Thumb ! ” said he ; have I 
caught you at your bad tricks at last ? Now I will 
reward you for thieving.” Then drawing the string 
tight around his neck, and shaking the bag, the 
cherry-stones bruised Tom’s legs, thighs, and body 
sadly ; which made him beg to be let out, and promise 
never to be guilty of such things any more. 

Shortly afterwards Tom’s mother was making a 
batter-pudding, and that he might see how she mixed 
it, he climbed on the edge of the bowl ; but his foot 
happening to slip, he fell over head and ears into the 
batter, and his mother not observing him, stirred him 
into the pudding, and popped him into the pot to 
boil. The hot water made Tom kick and struggle ; 
and his mother seeing the pudding jump up and down 
in such a furious manner, thought it was bewitched ; 
and a tinker coming by just at the time, she quickly 
gave him the pudding ; he put it into his budget and 
walked on. 

As soon as Tom could get the batter out of his 
mouth he began to cry aloud, which so frightened the 
poor tinker that he flung the pudding over the hedge 
and ran away from it as fast as he could. The pud- 
ding being broken to pieces by the fall, Tom was 
released, and walked home to his mother, who gave 
him a kiss and put him to bed. 

Tom Thumb’s mother once took him with her when 
she went to milk the cow ; and it being a very windy 
day, she tied him with a needleful of thread to a 
thistle, that he might not be blown away. The cow, 


TOM THUMB. 


97 


liking his oak-leaf hat, took him and the thistle up at 
one mouthful. While the cow chewed the thistle, Tom, 
terrified at her great teeth, which seemed ready to 
crush him to pieces, roared, Mother, mother!” as 
loud as he could bawl. 

‘‘ Where are you. Tommy, my dear Tommy ? ” said 
the mother. 

Here, mother, here in the red cow’s mouth.” 

The mother began to cry and wring her hands ; l)ut 
the cow, surprised at such odd noises in her throat, 
opened her mouth and let him drop out. His mother 
clapped him into her apron and ran home with him. 
Tom’s father made him a whip of a barley straw to 
drive the cattle with, and being one day in the field he 
slipped into a deep furrow. A raven fiying over picked 
him up with a grain of corn, and flew with him to the 
top of a giant’s castle by the seaside, where he left 
him ; and old Grumbo, the giant, coming soon after 
to walk upon his terrace, swallowed Tom like a pill, 
clothes and all. Tom presently made the giant very 
uncomfortable, and he threw him up into the sea. A 
great fish then swallowed him. This fish was soon after 
caught, and sent as a present to King Arthur. When 
it was cut open, everybody was delighted with little 
Tom Thumb. The king made him his dwarf ; he was 
the favorite of the whole court, and, by his merry 
pranks, often amused the queen and the knights of 
the Kound Table. The king, when he rode on horse- 
back, frequently took Tom in his hand ; and if a shower 
of rain came on, he used to creep into the king’s waist- 
coat pocket and sleep till the rain was over. The king 
also sometimes questioned Tom concerning his par- 
ents ; and when Tom informed his majesty they were 
very poor people, the king led him into his treasury 
and told him he should pay his friends a visit, and 
take with him as much money as he could carry. Tom 


98 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


procured a little purse, and putting a threepenny piece 
into it, with much labor and difficulty got it upon 
his back ; and, after travelling two days and nights, 
arrived at his father’s house. His mother met him 
at the do6r, almost tired to death, having in forty- 
eight hours travelled almost half a mile with a huge 
silver threepence upon his back. Both his parents 
were glad to see him, especially when he had brought 
such an amazing sum of money with him. They 
placed him in a walnut-shell by the fireside, and 
feasted him for three days upon a hazel-nut, which 
made him sick, for a whole nut usually served him for 
a month. Tom got well, but could not travel because 
it had rained ; therefore his mother took him in her 
hand, and with one puff blew him into King Arthur’s 
court, where Tom entertained the king, queen, 
and nobility at tilts and tournaments, at which he 
exerted himself so much that he brought on a fit of 
sickness, and his life was despaired of. At this junct- 
ure the queen of the fairies came in a chariot, drawn 
by flying mice, placed Tom by her side, and drove 
through the air without stopping till they arrived at 
her palace ; when, after restoring him to health and 
permitting him to enjoy all the gay diversions of Fairy- 
land, she commanded a fair wind, and, placing Tom 
before it, blew him straight to the court of King 
Arthur. But just as Tom should have alighted in the 
courtyard of the palace, the cook happened to pass 
along with the king’s great bowl of furmenty (King 
Arthur loved furmenty), and poor Tom Thumb fell 
plump into the middle of it, and splashed the hot fur- 
menty into the cook’s eyes. Down went the bowl. 

“ Oh, dear ! Oh, dear ! ” cried Tom. 

Murder ! murder ! ” bellowed the cook ; and away 
poured the king’s nice furmenty into the kennel. 

The cook was a red-faced, cross fellow, and swore 


TOM THUMB. 


99 


to the king that Tom ^ had done it out of mere mis- 
chief ; so he was taken up, tried, and sentenced to be 
beheaded. Tom hearing this dreadful sentence, and 
seeing a miller stand by with his mouth wide open, 
he took a good spring and jumped down the miller’s 
throat, unperceived by all, even the miller himself. 

Tom being lost, the court broke up, and away went 
the miller to his mill. But Tom did not leave him 
long at rest ; he began to roll and tumble about, so 
that the miller thought himself bewitched, and sent 
for a doctor. When the doctor came Tom began to 
dance and sing ; the doctor was as much frightened as 
the miller, and sent in great haste for five more 
doctors and twenty learned' men. While all these 
were debating upon the affair, the miller (for they 
were very tedious) happened to yawn, and Tom, tak- 
ing the opportunity, made another jump, and alighted 
on his feet in the middle of the table. The miller, 
provoked to be thus tormented by such a little 
• creature, fell into a great passion, caught hold of 
Tom, and threw him out of the window into the 
river. A large salmon swimming by snapped him up 
in a minute. The salmon was soon caught and sold 
in the market to a steward of a lord. The lord, 
thinking it an uncommon fine fish, made a present of 
it to the king, who ordered it to be dressed immedi- 
atel}^ When the cook cut open the salmon he found 
poor Tom, and ran with him directly to the king ; but 
the king, being busy with state affairs, desired that 
he might be brought another day. The cook, resolv- 
ing to keep him safely this time, as he had so lately 
given him the slip, clapped him into a mouse-trap, 
and left him to amuse himself by peeping through the 
wires for a whole week ; when the king sent for 
him he forgave him for throwing down the furmenty, 
ordered him new clothes, and knighted him. 


too 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


“ His shirt was made of butterflies’ wings ; 

His boots were made of chicken skins ; 

His coat and breeches were made with pride ; 

A tailor’s needle hung by his side ; 

A mouse for a horse he used to ride.” 

Thus dressed and mounted, he rode a-hunting witli 
the king and nobility, who all laughed heartily at 
Tom and his fine prancing steed. As they rode by a 
farmhouse one day, a cat jumped from behind the 
door, seized the mouse and little Tom, and began to 
devour the mouse; however. Topi boldly drew his 
sword and attacked the cat, who then let him fall. 
The king and his nobles, seeing Tom falling, went to 
his assistance, and one of the lords caught him in his 
hat ; but poor Tom was sadly scratched, and his clothes 
were torn by the claws of the cat. In this condition 
he was carried home, when a bed of down was made 
for him in a little ivory cabinet. The queen of the 
fairies came and took him again to Fairyland, where 
she kept him for some years ; and then, dressing him 
in bright green, sent him flying once more through 
the air to the earth, in the days of King Thunstone. 
The people flocked far and near to look at him ; and 
the king, before whom he was carried, asked him who 
he was, whence he came, and where he lived ? Tom 
answered : 

My name is Tom Thumb ; 

From the fairies I come ; 

When King Arthur shone, 

This court was my home ; 

In me he delighted, 

By him I was knighted. 

Did you never hear of 
Sir Thomas Thumb? ” 

The king was so charmed with this address that 
he ordered a little chair to be made, in order that 
Tom might sit on his table, and also a palace of gold a 




TOM THUMB. 


101 


span high, with a door an inch wide, for little Tom to 
live in. He also gave him a coach drawn by six^ 
small mice. This made the queen angry, because she 
had not a new coach too ; therefore, resolving to ruin 
Tom, she complained to the king that he had behaved 
very insolently to her. The king sent for him in a 
rage. Tom, to escape his fury, crept into an empty 
snail-shell, and there lay till he was almost starved, 
when, peeping out of the hole, he saw a fine butterfly 
settle on the ground. He now ventured out, and get- 
ting astride, the butterfly took wing, and mounted 
into the air with little Tom on his back. Away he 
flew from field to field, from tree to tree, till at last 
he flew to the king^s court. The king, queen, and 
nobles all strove to catch the butterfly, but could not. 
At length poor Tom, having neither bridle nor saddle, 
slipped from his seat and fell into a watering-pot, 
where he was found almost drowned. The queen 
vowed he should be guillotined ; but while the guillo- 
tine was getting ready, he was secured once more in a 
mouse-trap, when the cat, seeing something stir and 
supposing it to be a mouse, patted the trap about till she 
broke it and set Tom, at liberty. Soon afterwards a 
spider, taking him for a fly, made at him. Tom drew 
his sword and fought valiantly, but the spider’s poi- 
sonous breath overcame him: 

He fell dead on the ground where late he had stood, 

And the spider suck’d up the last drop of his blood.” 

King Thunstone and his whole court went into 
mourning for little Tom Thumb. They buried him 
under a rosebush, and raised a nice white marble 
monument over his grave, with the following epitaph : 

Here lies Tom Thumb, King Arthur’s knight. 

Who died by a spider’s cruel bite. 


102 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


He was well known in Arthur’s court, 

Where he afforded gallant sport ; 

He rode at tilt and tournament, 

And on a mouse a-hunting went. 

Alive he fill’d the court with mirth. 

His death to sorroAv soon gave birth. 

Wipe, wipe your eyes, and shake your head. 

And cry, ' Alas ! Tom Thumb is dead.’ ” 

— ^ 

RUMPELSTILZCHEN. 

There was once a miller who was very poor, but 
he had a beautiful daughter. Now, it happened that 
he came to speak to the king, and, to give himself 
importance, he said to him, I have a daughter who 
can spin straw into gold.” 

The king said to the miller, That is a talent that 
pleases me well ; if she be as skilful as you say, bring 
her to-morrow to the palace and I will put her to the 
proof.” 

When the maiden was brought to him he led her to 
a room full of straw, gave her a wheel and spindle, 
and said, Now set to work, and if by the morrow 
this straw be not spun into gold, you shall die.” He 
locked the door and left the maiden alone. 

The poor girl sat down disconsolate, and could not 
for her life think what she was to do ; for she knew 
not — how could she ? — the way to spin straw into 
gold ; and her distress increased so much that at last 
she began to weep. All at once the door opened, and a 
little man entered and said, Good evening, my pretty 
miller’s daughter ; why are you weeping so bitterly ? ” 

“ Ah ! ” answered the maiden, ‘‘ I must spin straw 
into gold, and know not how to do it.” 

The little man said, What will you give me if I 
do it for you ? ” 


RUMP ELSTILZC HEN. 


103 


My neckerchief/’ said the maiden. 

He took the kerchief, sat down before the wheel, 
and grind, pdnd, grind, — three times did he grind, — 
and the spindle was full ; then he put another thread 
on, and grind, grind, grind, the second was full ; so 
he spun on till morning, when all the straw was spun 
and all the spindles were full of gold. 

The king came at sunrise, and was greatly aston- 
ished and overjoyed at the sight; but it only made 
his heart the more greedy of gold. He put the miller’s 
daughter into another much larger room full of straw, 
and ordered her to spin it all in one night, if life were 
dear to her. The poor, helpless maiden began to weep, 
when once more the door flew open, the little man 
appeared and said, What will you give me if I spin 
this straw into gold ? ” 

My ring from my finger,” answered the maiden. 

The little man took the ring, began to turn the 
wheel, and by the morning all the straw was spun 
into shining gold. 

The king was highly delighted when he saw it, but 
was not yet satisfied with the quantity of gold ; so he 
put the damsel into a still larger room full of straw, 
and said, Spin this during the night ; and if you do 
it you shall be my wife.” For,” he thought, “ if 
she ’s only a miller’s daughter, I shall never find a 
richer wife in the whole world.” 

As soon as the damsel was alone the little man came 
the third time and said, What will you give me if I 
again spin all this straw for you ? ” 

I have nothing more to give you,” answered the 

girl. 

Then promise, if you become queen, to give me 
your first child.” 

‘‘ Who knows how that may be, or how things may 
turn out between now and then ? ” thought the girl, 


104 THE EAIRY BOOH. 

but in her perplexity she could not help herself ; so 
she promised the little man what he desired, and he 
spun all the straw into gold. 

When the king came in the morning and saw that 
his orders had been obeyed, he married the maiden, 
and the miller’s beautiful daughter became a queen. 
After a year had passed she brought a lovely baby 
into the world, but quite forgot the little man, till he 
walked suddenly into her chamber, and said, Give 
me what you promised me.” The queen was fright- 
ened, and offered the dwarf all the riches of the king- 
dom if he would only leave her her child; but he 
answered, No ; something living is dearer to me than 
all the treasures of the world.” 

Then the queen began to grieve and to weep so 
bitterly that the little man took pity upon her and 
said, I will give you three days ; if in that time you 
can find out my name, you shall keep the child.” 

All night long the queen thought over every name 
she had ever heard, and sent a messenger through the 
kingdom to inquire what names were usually given to 
people in that country. When, next day, the little 
man came again, she began with Casper, Melchior, 
Balthaz'ar, and repeated, each after each, all the names 
she knew or had heard of ; but at each one the little 
man said, That is not my name.” 

The second day she again sent round about in all 
directions to ask how the people were called, and 
repeated to the little man the strangest names she 
could hear of or imagine ; to each he answered always. 

That is not my name.” 

The third day the messenger returned and said : “ I 
have not been able to find a single new name ; but as 
I came over a high mountain by a wood, where the 
fox and the hare bid each other good-night, I saw a 
little house, and before the house was burning a little 


FOETUNATUS. 105 

fire, and round the fire danced a very funny little man, 
who hopped upon one leg and cried out : 

“ ‘ To-day I brew, to-morrow I bake, 

Next day the queen’s child I shall take. 

How glad I am that nobody knows 
My name is Rumpelstilzchen ! ’ ” 

You may guess how joyful the queen was at hear- 
ing this ; and when, soon after, the little man entered 
and said, “ Queen, what is my name ? ” she asked him 
mischievously : Is your name Kunz ? 

Is your name Carl ? ” 

« No.” 

‘‘ Are you not sometimes called Rumpelstilzchen ? ” 
A witch has told you that — a witch has told 
you ! ” shrieked the poor little man, and stamped so 
furiously with his right foot that it sunk into the 
earth up to the hip ; then he seized his left foot with 
both hands with such violence that he tore himself 
right in two. 


FORTUNATUS. 

In the city of Famagosta, in the island of Cyprus, 
there lived a very rich gentleman. His name was 
Theodorus ; he married a lady who was the greatest 
beauty in Cyprus, and she was as rich as himself ; she 
was called Graciana. They both had every pleasure 
that wealth could buy, and lived in the first style. 
Besides all this, the Lady Graciana brought her 
husband a fine little son, who was named Fortunatus ; 
so one would think nothing could have kept Theodorus 
from being the most happy person in the world. But 
this was not long the case ; for when he had enjoyed 


106 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


all these pleasures for some time, he grew tired of 
them, and began to keep company with young noblemen 
of the court, with whom he sat up all night drinking 
and playing cards, so that in a few years he spent all 
his fortune. He was now very sorry for what he had 
done, but it was too late ; and there was nothing he 
could do but to work at some trade to support his 
wife and child. For all this the Lady Graciana never 
found fault with him, but still loved her husband the 
same as before, saying, “ Dear Theodorus, to be sure 
I do not know how to work at any trade ; but if I 
cannot help you in earning money, I will help you to 
save it.’’ So Theodorus set to work ; and though the 
Lady Graciana had always been used only to ring her 
bell for everything that she wanted, she now scoured 
the kettles and washed the clothes with her own 
hands. 

They went on in this manner till Fortunatus was 
sixteen years of age. When that time came, one day, 
as they were all sitting at dinner, Theodorus fixed his 
eyes on his son, and sighed deeply. 

What is the matter with you, father ? ” said 
Fortunatus. 

Ah ! my child,” said Theodorus, I have reason 
enough to be sorry, when I think of the noble fortune 
which I have spent, and that my folly will force you 
to labor for your living.” 

Father,” replied Fortunatus, ‘‘ do not grieve about 
it. I have often thought that it was time I should do 
something for myself; and though I have not been 
brought up to any trade, yet I hope I can contrive to 
support myself somehow.” 

When Fortunatus had done his dinner, he took his 
hat and walked to the seaside, thinking of what he 
could do, so as to be no longer a burden to his parents. 
Just as he reached the seashore, the Earl of Flanders,, 


FORTUNATUS. 


107 


who had been to Jerusalem, was embarking on board 
his ship with all his servants, to set sail for Flanders. 
Fortunatus now thought he would offer himself to be 
the Earl’s page. When the Earl saw that he was a 
smart-looking lad, and heard the quick replies which 
he made to his questions, he took him into his service ; 
so at once they all went on board. On their way the 
ship stopped a short time at the port of Venice, where 
Fortunatus saw many strange things, which made him 
wish still more to travel, and taught him much that 
he did not know before. 

Soon after this they came to Flanders ; and they 
had not been long on shore before the Earl, his 
master, was married to the daughter of the Duke of 
Cleves. The wedding was kept with all sorts of 
public feasting, and games on horseback called tilts, 
which lasted many days ; and, among the rest, the 
Earl’s lady gave two jewels as prizes to be played for, 
each of them the value of a hundred crowns. One of 
them was won by Fortunatus, and the other by Tim- 
othy, a servant of the Duke of Burgundy ; who after- 
wards ran another tilt with Fortunatus, so that the 
winner was to have both the jewels. So they tilted, 
and, at the fourth course, Fortunatus hoisted Timothy 
a full spear’s length from his horse, and thus won 
both the jewels ; which pleased the Earl and Countess 
so much that they praised Fortunatus, and thought 
better of him than ever. At this time, also, Fortuna- 
tus had many rich presents given him by the lords 
and ladies of the court. But the high favor shown 
him made his fellow-servants jealous ; and one, named 
Kobert, who had always pretended a great friendship 
for Fortunatus, made him believe that, for all his 
seeming kindness, the Earl in secret envied him his 
great skill in tilting. Bobert said, too, that he had 
heard the Earl give private orders to one of his ser- 


108 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


vants to find some way of killing him next day, while 
they should all be out hunting. 

Fortunatus thanked the wicked Robert for what he 
thought a great kindness ; and the next day at day- 
break, he took the swiftest horse in the Earl’s stables 
and left the country. When the Earl heard that 
Fortunatus had gone away in a hurry, he was much 
surprised, and asked all his servants what they knew 
about the matter ; but they all denied knowing any- 
thing of it, or why he had left them. The Earl then 
said : Fortunatus was a lad for whom I had a great 
esteem ; I am sure some of you must have given him 
an affront ; if I discover it, I shall not fail to punish 
the guilty person.” In the meantime Fortunatus, 
when he found himself out of the Earl’s country, 
stopped at an inn to refresh himself, and began to 
reckon how much he had about him. He took out all 
his fine clothes and jewels, and could not help putting 
them on. He then looked at himself in the glass, and 
thought that, to be sure, he was quite a fine smart 
fellow. Next he took out his purse, and counted the 
money that had been given him by the lords and 
ladies of the Earl’s court. He found that in all he 
had five hundred crowns ; so he bought a horse, and 
took care to send back the one that he had taken from 
the Earl’s stable. 

He then set off for Calais, crossed the Channel, 
landed safely al; Dover, and went on to London, 
where he soon .made his way into genteel company, 
and had once the honor to dance with the daughter 
of a duke at the lord mayor’s ball. This sort of life, 
as anybody may well think, soon made away with his 
little stock of money. When Fortunatus found that 
he had not a penny left, he began to think of going 
back again to France ; and soon after went on board 
a ship bound to Picardy. He landed in that country. 


FORTUNATUS. 


109 


but finding no employment he set off for Brittany, 
when he lost his way in crossing a wood, and was 
forced to stay in it all night. The next morning he 
was little better off, for he could find no path. So he 
walked about from one part of the wood to another, 
till at last, on the evening of the second day, he saw 
a spring, at which he drank very heartily ; but still 
he had nothing to eat, and was ready to die with hun- 
ger. When night came on he heard the growling of 
wild beasts, so he climbed up a high tree for safety ; 
and he had hardly seated himself in it before a lion 
walked fiercely up to a spring to drink. This made 
him very much afraid. When the lion had gone 
away, a bear came to drink also ; and as the moon 
shone very bright, the beast looked up and saw Eor- 
tunatus, and straightway began to climb up the tree 
to get at him. 

Tortunatus drew his sword and sat quite still till 
the bear was come within arm’s length ; and then he 
ran him through the body. This drove the bear so 
very savage that he made a great spring to get at 
him ; but the bough broke and down he fell, and lay 
sprawling and howling on the ground. Fortunatus 
now looked around on all sides; and as he saw no 
more wild beasts near, he thought this would be a 
good time to get rid of the bear at once ; so down he 
came and killed him at a single blow. Being almost 
starved for want of food, the poor youth stooped down 
and was going to suck the blood of the bear ; but look- 
ing round once more to see if any wild beast were com- 
ing, he on a sudden beheld a beautiful lady standing 
by his side, with a bandage over her eyes, leaning 
upon a wheel, and looking as if she were going to 
speak, which she soon did, in these words : Know, 
young man, that my name is Fortune ; I have the 
power to Taestow wisdom, strength, riches, health. 


no 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


beauty, and long life; one of these I am willing to 
grant you — choose for yourself which it shall be.’’ 

Fortunatus was not a moment before he answered : 

Good lady, I wish to have riches in such plenty that 
I may never again know what it is to be so hungry as 
I now find myself.” The lady then gave him a purse, 
and told him that in all the countries where he might 
happen to be, he need only put his hand into the purse 
as often as he pleased, and he would be sure to find 
in it ten pieces of gold ; that the purse should never 
fail of yielding the same sum as long as it was kept 
by him and his children ; but that when he and his 
children should be dead, then the purse would lose its 
power. 

Fortunatus now did not know what to do with him- 
self for joy, and began to thank the lady very 
much ; but she told him that he had better think of 
making his way out of the wood. She then directed 
him which path to take, and bade him farewell. 
He walked by the light of the moon, as fast as his 
weakness and fatigue would let him, till he came near 
an inn. But before he went into it he thought it 
would be best to see whether the Lady Fortune had 
been as good as her word ; so he put his hand into his 
purse, and to his great joy he counted ten pieces of 
gold. Having nothing to fear, Fortunatus walked 
boldly up to the inn and called for the best supper 
they could get ready in a minute. For,” said he, “ I 
must wait till to-morrow before I am very nice. I 
am so hungry now that almost anything will do.” 
Fortunatus very soon ate quite enough, and then 
called for every sort of wine in the house, and drank 
his fill. After supper he began to think what sort 
of life he should lead. For,” said he to himself, I 
shall now have money enough for everything I can 
desire.” He slept that night in the very best bed in 


FORTUNATUS. 


Ill 


the house ; and the next day he ordered the finest 
victuals of all kinds. When he rang his bell, all the 
waiters tried who should run fastest to ask him what 
he pleased to want ; and the landlord himself, hearing 
what a noble guest was come to his house, took care 
to be standing at the door to bow to him when he 
should be passing out. 

Fortunatus asked the landlord whether any fine 
horses could be got near at hand ; also, if he knew of 
some smart-looking, clever men-servants who wanted 
places. By chance the landlord was able to provide 
him with both. As he had now got everything he 
wanted, he set out on the finest horse that was ever 
seen, with two servants, for the nearest town. There 
he bought some grand suits of clothes, put his two 
servants into liveries laced with gold, and then went 
on to Paris. Here he took the best house that was to 
be had, and lived in great pomp. He invited the 
nobility, and gave grand balls to all the most beauti- 
ful ladies of the court. He went to all public places 
of amusement, and the first lords in the country invited 
him to their houses. He had lived in this manner for 
about a year, when he began to think of going to 
Famagosta to visit his parents, whom he had left very 
poor. But,” thought Fortunatus, as I am young 
and have not seen much of the world, I should like to 
meet with some person of more knowledge than I have, 
who would make my journey both useful and pleasing 
to me.” Soon after this he met with an old gentleman, 
called Loch-Fitty, who was a native of Scotland, and 
had left. a wife and ten children a great many years 
ago, in hopes to better his fortune ; but now, owing to 
many accidents, was poorer than ever, and had not 
money enough to take him back to his family. 

When Loch-Fitty found how much Fortunatus wished 
to obtain knowledge, he told him many of the strange 


112 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


adventures he had met with, and gave him an account 
of all the countries he had been in, as well as of the 
customs, dress, and manners of the people. Fortunatus 
thought to himself, This is the very man I stand in 
need of so at once he made him a good offer, which 
the old gentleman agreed to, but made the bargain that 
he might first go and visit his family. Fortunatus told 
him that he should. ^‘And,’’ said he, “as I am a 
little tired of being always in the midst of such noisy 
pleasures as we find at Paris, I will, with your leave, go 
with you to Scotland, and see your wife and children.” 
They set out the very next day, and came safe to the 
house of Loch-Fitty ; and in all the journey Fortunatus 
did not once wish to change his kind companion for all 
the pleasures and grandeur he had left behind. Loch- 
Fitty kissed his wife and children, five of whom were 
daughters, and the most beautiful creatures that 
were ever beheld. When they were seated his wife said 
to him : “ Ah ! dear Lord Loch-Fitty, how happy I am 
to see you once again ! Now I hope we shall enjoy each 
other’s company for the rest of our lives. What though 
we are poor ! We will be content if you will but 
promise not to think of leaving us again to get riches, 
only because we have a noble title.” 

Fortunatus heard this with great surprise. “ What ! ” 
said he ; “ are you a lord ? Then you shall be a rich 
lord too. And that you may not think I lay you under 
any burden in the fortune I shall give you, I will put 
it in your power to make me your debtor instead. Give 
me your youngest daughter Cassandra for a wife, and 
accompany us as far as Famagosta, and take all your 
family with you, that you may have pleasant company 
on your way back, when you "have rested in that place 
from your fatigue.” 

Lord Loch-Fitty shed some tears of joy to think he 
should at last see his family again raised to all the 


FORTUNATUS. 


113 


honors which it had once enjoyed. He gladly agreed 
to the marriage of Fortunatus with his daughter 
Cassandra, and then told him the reasons that had 
forced him to drop his title and live poor at Paris. 
When Lord Loch-Fitty had ended his story, they 
agreed that the very next morning the Lady Cassan- 
dra should be asked to accept the hand of Fortunatus ; 
and that, if she should consent, they would set sail in 
a few days for Famagosta. The next morning the offer 
was made to her, as had been agreed on, and Fortuna- 
tus had the pleasure of hearing from the lips of the 
beautiful Cassandra that the very first time she cast 
her eyes on him she thought him the most handsome 
gentleman in the world. 

Everything was soon ready for them to set out on 
the journey. Fortunatus, Lord Loch-Fitty, his lady, 
and their ten children then set sail in a large ship ; 
they had a good voyage, and landed safe at the port of 
Famagosta. There, however, Fortunatus found, with 
great grief and self-reproach, that his father and mother 
were both dead. However, as he was an easy-tem- 
pered gentleman, and had his betrothed Cassandra and 
her whole family to reconcile him to his grief, it did 
not last very long ; the wedding took place almost 
immediately ; so they lived all together in Famagosta, 
and in very great style. By the end of the first year 
the Lady Cassandra had a little son, who was christ- 
ened Ampedo ; and the next year another, who was 
christened Andolucia. For twelve years Fortunatus 
lived a very happy life with his wife and children 
and his wife’s kindred ; and as each of her sisters had 
a fortune given her from the purse of Fortunatus, they 
soon married very well. But by this time he began to 
long to travel again ; and he thought, as he was now 
so much older and wiser than when he was at Paris, 
he might go by himself, for Lord Loch-Fitty was at 


114 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


this time too old to bear fatigue. After he had, with 
great trouble, got the consent of the Lady Cassandra, 
and made her a promise to stay away only two y^ears, 
he made all things ready for his journey ; and taking 
his lady into one of his private rooms, he showed her 
three chests of gold. He told her to keep one of these 
for herself, and take charge of the other two for their 
sons, in case any evil should happen to him. He then 
led her back to the room where the whole family Avere 
sitting, embraced them all tenderly one by one, and 
set sail with a fair wind for Alexandria. 

When Fortunatus came to this place he was told it 
was the custom to make a handsome present to the 
sultan ; so he sent him a piece of plate that cost five 
thousand pounds. The sultan was so much pleased 
with this that he ordered a hundred casks of spices to 
be given to Fortunatus in return. Fortunatus sent 
these straight to the Lady Cassandra, with the most 
tender letters, by the same ship that brought him, 
which was then going back to Famagosta. Having 
stated that he wished to travel through his country by 
land, he obtained from the sultan such passports and 
letters as he might stand in need of, to the other 
princes in those parts. He then bought a camel, 
hired proper servants, and set off on his travels. He 
went through Turkey, Persia, and from thence to 
Carthage ; he next went into the country of Prester 
John, Avho rides upon a white elephant and has kings 
to wait on him. Fortunatus made him some rich pres- 
ents, and went on to Calcutta; and in coming back 
he took Jerusalem in the way, and so came again to 
Alexandria, Avhere he had the good fortune to find the 
same ship that had brought him, and to learn from the 
captain that his wife and family were all in perfect 
health. The first thing he did was to pay a visit to 
his old friend the sultan, to whom he again made a 


FORTUNATUS. 


115 


handsome present, and was invited to dine at his 
palace. After dinner the sultan said : “ It must be 
vastly amusing, Fortunatus, to hear an account of all 
the places you have seen ; pray favor me with a history 
of your travels.” Fortunatus did as he was desired, 
and pleased the sultan very much by telling him the 
many odd adventures he had met with ; and, above 
all, the manner of his first becoming known to the 
Lord Loch-Fitty, and the desire of that lord to main- 
tain the honors of his family. When he had ended 
the sultan said he was greatly pleased with what he 
had heard, but that he possessed a more curious thing 
than any Fortunatus had told him of. He then led 
him into a room almost filled with jewels, opened a 
large closet, and took out a cap, which he said was of 
greater value than all the rest. Fortunatus thought 
the sultan was joking, and told him he had seen many 
a better cap than that. Ah ! ” said the sultan, “ that 
is because you do not know its value. Whoever puts 
this cap on his head, and wishes to be in any part of 
the world, will find himself there in a moment.” 

^Hndeed!” said Fortunatus; ^^and pray is the 
man living who made it ? ” 

“ I know nothing about that,” said the sultan. 

One would hardly believe it,” said Fortunatus. 
Pray, sir, is it very heavy ? ” 

^^Hot at all,” replied the sultan; ^^you may feel it.” 
Fortunatus took up the cap, put it on his head, and 
could not help wishing himself on board the ship that 
was going back to Famagosta. In less than a moment 
he was carried on board of her, just as she was ready 
to sail ; and there being a brisk gale, they were out of 
sight in half an hour, before the sultan had even 
time to repent of his folly for letting Fortunatus try 
the cap on his head. The ship came safe to Fama- 
gosta, after a happy passage, and Fortunatus found 


116 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


his wife and children well ; but Lord Loch-Fitty and 
his lady had died of old age, and were buried in the 
same grave. 

Fortunatus now began to take great pleasure in 
teaching his two boys all sorts of useful learning, 
and also such manly sports as wrestling and tilting. 
Now and then he thought about the curious cap which 
had brought him home, and then would wish he 
could just take a peep at what was passing in other 
countries 5 which wish was always fulfilled ; but he 
never stayed there more than an hour or two, so that 
the Lady Cassandra did not miss him, and was no 
longer made uneasy by his love of travelling. 

At last Fortunatus began to grow old, and the 
Lady Cassandra fell sick and died. The loss of her 
caused him so much grief that soon after he fell sick 
too. As he thought he had not long to live, he called 
his two sons to his bedside and told them the secrets 
of the purse and the cap, which he begged they 
would not, on any account, make known to others. 
“ Follow my example,” said he ; I have had the 
purse these forty years, and no living person knew 
from what source I obtained my riches.” He then 
told them to make use of the purse between them, 
and to live together in friendship ; and, embracing 
them, died soon after. Fortunatus was buried with 
great pomp by the side of Lady Cassandra, in his 
own chapel, and was for a long time mourned by the 
people of Famagosta. 


THE BREMEN TOWN MUSICIANS. 


IIT 


THE BKEMEN TOWN MUSICIANS. 

There was a man who owned a donkey, which had 
carried his sacks to the mill industriously for many 
years, but whose strength had come to an end, so that 
the poor beast grew more and more unfit for work. 
The master determined to stop his food, but the 
donkey, discovering that there was no good intended 
to him, ran away and took the road to Bremen. 

There,’’ thought he, I can turn Town Musician.” 

When he had gone a little way he found a hound 
lying on the road and panting, like one who was 
tired with running. ‘‘ Hollo ! what are you panting 
so for, worthy Seize ’em ? ” asked the donkey. 

Oh !” said the dog, ^^just because I am old, and 
get weaker every day, and cannot go out hunting, my 
master wanted to kill me, so I have taken leave of 
him ; but how shall I gain my living now ? ” 

‘‘ I ’ll tell you what,” said the donkey ; I am going 
to Bremen to be Town Musician ; come with me and 
take to music too. I will play the lute, and you shall 
beat the drum.” 

The dog liked the idea, and they travelled on. It 
was not long before they saw a cat sitting by the road, 
making a face like three rainy days. 

Now, then, what has gone wrong with you, old 
Whiskers ? ” said the donkey. 

Who can be merry when his neck is in danger ? ” 
answered the cat. “ Because I am advanced in years, 
and my teeth are blunt, and I like sitting before the 
fire and purring better than chasing the mice about, 
my mistress wanted to drown me. I have managed 
to escape, but good advice is scarce ; tell me where I 
shall go to ? ” 


118 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Come with us two to Bremen ; you understand 
serenading ; you also can become a Town Musician.’’ 

The cat thought it a capital idea, and went with 
them. Soon after the three runaways came to a 
farmyard, and there sat a cock on the gate, crowing 
with might and main. 

You crow loud enough to deafen one,” said the 
donkey ; what is the matter with you ? ” 

I prophesied fair weather,” said the cock, because 
it is our good mistress’s washing-day, and she wants 
to dry the clothes ; but because to-morrow is Sunday, 
and company is coming, the mistress has no pity on 
me, and has told the cook to put me into the soup 
to-morrow, and I must have my head cut oft to-night ; 
so now I am crowing with all my might as long as I 
can.” 

Oh, you old Bedhead,” said the donkey, you had 
better come with us ; we are going to Bremen, where 
you will certainly find something better than having 
your head cut off ; you have a good voice, and if we 
all make music together, it will be something strik- 
ing.” 

The cock liked the proposal, and they went on, all 
four together. 

But they could not reach the city of Bremen in one 
day, and they came in the evening to a wood, where 
they agreed to spend the night. The donkey and the 
dog laid themselves down under a great tree, but the 
cat and the cock went higher — the cock flying up to 
the topmost branch, where he was safest. Before he 
went to sleep he looked round towards all the four 
points of the compass, and he thought he saw a spark 
shining in the distance. He called to his companions 
that there must be a house not far off, for he could see 
a light. The donkey said : “ Then we must rise and 
go to it, for the lodgings here are very bad ; ” and the 


THE BREMEN TOWN MUSICIANS. 


119 


dog said, “ Yes ; a few bones with a little flesli on them 
would do me good.” So they took the road in the 
direction where the light was, and soon saw it shine 
brighter ; and it got larger and larger till they came 
to a brilliantly illumined robber’s house. The donkey, 
being the biggest, got up at the window and looked in. 

What do you see. Greybeard ? ” said the cock. 

What do I see ? ” answered the donkey ; a table 
covered with beautiful food and drink, and robbers 
are sitting round it and enjoying themselves.” 

‘‘ That would do nicely for us,” said the cock. 

Yes, indeed, if we were only there,” replied the 
donkey. 

The animals then consulted together how they 
should manage to drive out the robbers, till at last 
they settled on a plan. The donkey was to place him- 
self with his fore-feet on the wdndow sill, the dog to 
climb on the donkey’s back, and the cat on the dog’s, 
and, at last, the cock was to fly up and perch himself 
on the cat’s head. When that was done, at a signal 
they began their music all together ; the donkey 
brayed, the dog barked, the cat mewed, and the cock 
crowed ; then with one great smash, they dashed 
through the window into the room, so that the glass 
clattered down. The robbers jumped up at this 
dreadful noise, thinking that nothing less than a 
ghost was coming in, and ran away into the wood in 
a great fright. The four companions then sat down 
at the table, quite content with what was left there, 
and ate as if they were expecting to fast for a month 
to come. 

When the four musicians had finished, they put out 
the light, and each one looked out for a suitable and 
comfortable sleeping-place. The donkey lay down 
on the dunghill, the dog behind the door, the cat on 
the hearth near the warm ashes, and the cock set him- 


120 


THE FAIEY BOOK. 


self on the hen-roost ; and, as they were all tired with 
their long journey, they soon went to sleep. Soon 
after midnight, as the robbers in the distance could 
see that no more lights were burning in the house, 
and as all seemed quiet, the captain said, We ought 
not to have let ourselves be scared so easily,’’ and 
sent one of them to examine the house. The messen- 
ger found everything quiet, went into the kitchen to 
light a candle, and, thinking the cat’s shining fiery 
eyes were live coals, he held a match to them to light 
it. But the cat did not understand the joke, flew in 
his face, spat at him, and scratched. He was dread- 
fully frightened, ran away, and was going out of the 
back door, when the dog, who was lying there, 
jumped up and bit him in the leg. As he ran through 
the yard, past the dunghill, the donkey gave him a 
good kick with his hind-foot ; and the cock being 
awakened, and made quite lively by the noise, called 
out from the hen-roost, Cock-a-doodle-doo ! ” 

The robber ran as hard as he could, back to the 
captain, and said : Oh, dear ! in the house sits a 
horrid old witch, who flew at me, and scatched my 
face with her long fingers ; and by the door stands a 
man with a knife, who stabbed me in the leg ; and in 
the yard lies a black monster, who hit me with a club ; 
and up on the roof there sits the judge, who called 
out, ^ Bring the rascal up here ’ — so I made the best 
of my way off.” 

From that time the robbers never trusted themselves 
again in the house ; but the four musicians liked it so 
well that they could not make up their minds to leave 
it, and spent there the remainder of their days, as the 
last person who told the story is ready to avouch for 
a fact. 


KIQUET WITH THE TUET. 


121 


KIQUET WITH THE TUFT. 

Once upon a time a queen had a little son, who was 
so ugly and ill-made that for a long time the poor 
little baby w'as thought hardly human. However, a 
good fairy, who presided at his birth, assured his 
mother that, though ugly, he would have so much 
sense and wit that he would never be disagreeable ; 
moreover, she bestowed on him the power of com- 
municating these gifts to the person he should love 
best in the world. At this the queen was a little 
comforted, and became still more so when, as soon as 
he could speak, the infant began to say such pretty 
and clever things that everybody was charmed with 
him. (I forgot to mention that his name was Kiquet 
with the Tuft, because he was born with a curious 
tuft of hair on the top of his head.) 

Seven or eight years after this the queen of a 
neighboring country had two little daughters, twins, at 
whose birth the same fairy presided. The elder twin 
was more beautiful than the day — the younger so 
extremely ugly that the mother’s extravagant joy in 
the first was all turned to grief about the second. 
So, in order to calm her feelings, the fairy told her 
that the one daughter should be as stupid as she was 
pretty, while the other would grow up so clever and 
charming that nobody would miss her want of beauty. 

Heaven grant it ! ” sighed the queen ; ‘‘ but are 
there no means of giving a little sense to the one who 
is so beautiful ? ” 

I can do nothing for her, madam,” returned the 
fairy, nothing as regards her own fortunes; but I 
grant her the power of making the person who best 
pleases her as handsome as herself.” 

Accordingly, as the young princesses grew up, their 


122 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


perfections grew with them ; and nothing was spoken 
of but the beauty of the elder and the wit of the 
younger. True, their faults increased equally; the 
one became uglier, and the other more stupid, day by 
day. Unlucky fair one ! she never had a word to say 
for herself, or else it was the silliest word imaginable ; 
and she was so awkward that she could not place four 
teacups in a row without breaking at least one of 
them, nor drink a glass of water without spilling 
half of it over her clothes. Beauty is a great charm ; 
yet, whenever the siSters went out together, those who 
were attracted by the elder’s lovely face, in less than 
half an hour were sure to be seen at the side of the 
younger, laughing at her witty and pleasant sayings, 
and altogether deserting the poor beauty, who had 
just sense enough to find it out, and to feel that she 
would have given all her good looks for one-half of 
her sister’s talents. 

One day, when she had hid herself in a wood, and 
was crying over her hard fate, she saw coming tow- 
ards her a little man, very ugly, but magnificently 
dressed. Who should this be but Prince Piquet with 
the Tuft ! He had seen her portrait, had fallen 
desperately in love with her, and secretly quitted his 
father’s kingdom that he might have the pleasure of 
meeting her. Delighted to find her alone, he came for- 
ward with all the respect and politeness imaginable. 
But he could not help noticing how very melancholy 
she was, and that all the elegant compliments he made 
her did not seem to affect her in the least. 

‘‘I cannot comprehend, madam,” said he, ^‘how so 
charming and lovely a lady can be so very sad. 
Never did I see anyone who could at all compare with 
you.” 

That ’s all you know,” said the princess, and 
stopped. 



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EIQUET WITH THE TIJET. 123 

Beauty/’ continued the prince, sighing, is so 
great an advantage that, if one possessed it, one 
would never trouble one’s self about anything else.” 

“1 wish I were as ugly as you, and had some 
sense, rather than be as handsome as I am and such a 
fool.” 

Madame,” said Biquet politely, though her speech 
was not exactly civil, “ nothing shows intellect so 
much as the modesty of believing one does not pos- 
sess it.” 

I don’t know that ; but I know I am a great fool, 
and it vexes me so that I wish I was dead,” cried the 
princess bitterly. 

If that is all, madam, I can easily put an end to 
your grief, for I have the power of making the person 
I love best as clever as I please. I will do it, provided 
you consent to marry me.” 

The princess stood dumb with astonishment. She — 
to marry that little frightful creature — scarcely a 
man at all ! 

“ I see,” said Biquet, that my proposal offends and 
grieves you. Well, I will give you a year to consider 
it.” 

Now the young lady was so stupid that she thought 
a year’s end was a long way off — so long that it 
seemed as if it might not come at all, or something 
might happen between whiles. And she had such a 
longing to be clever and admired that she thought at 
all risks she would accept the chance of becoming so. 
Accordingly, she promised Biquet to marry him that 
day twelvemonth. 

No sooner had she said it than she felt herself quite 
another being. She found she could at once say any- 
thing she chose, and say it in the most graceful and 
brilliant way. She began a lively conversation with 
Prince Biquet, and chatted so fast and so wittily that 


124 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


he began to be afraid he had given her so much clever- 
ness as to leave himself none. 

When she returned to the palace, all the court were 
astonished at the change. She, who had annoyed 
everybody by the impertinent, tasteless, or downright 
foolish things she uttered, now charmed everybody by 
her wit, her pleasantness, and her exceeding good 
sense. The king himself began to come to her apart- 
ment, and ask her advice in state affairs. Her mother, 
and indeed the whole kingdom, were delighted ; the 
only person to be pitied was the poor younger sister, 
of whom nobody now took the least notice. 

Meantime, princes came in throngs to ask in mar- 
riage this wonderful princess, who was as clever as 
she was beautiful ; but she found none to suit her, 
probably because the more sense a lady has, the more 
difficult she is to please. As for her promise to Riquet 
with the Tuft, being given in the days when she was 
so dull and stupid, it now never once came into her 
head; until one day, being quite perplexed by her 
numerous suitors, she went to take a solitary walk and 
think the matter over, when by chance she came into 
the same wood where she had met the prince. There, 
all of a sudden, she thought she heard a queer run- 
ning about and chatting underground. Fetch me 
that spit,^’ cried one ; “ Put some more wood on that 
lire,” said another ; and by and by the earth opened, 
showing a great kitchen filled with cooks, cooking a 
splendid banquet. They were all working merrily at 
their several duties, and singing together in the most 
lively chorus. 

What is all this about ? ” asked the amazed prin- 
cess. 

^‘If you please, madam,” replied the head-cook 
politely, we are cooking the wedding-dinner of Prince 
Piquet with the Tuft, who is to be married to-morrow.” 


BIQUET WITH THE TUFT. 


125 


To-morrow,” cried the princess, all at once recol- 
lecting her promise ; at which she was so frightened 
that she thought she should have fallen to the earth. 
Greater still was her alarm when, at only a few steps’ 
distance, she beheld Riquet dressed splendidly, like a 
prince and a bridegroom. 

You see me, princess, exact to my word ; and I 
doubt not you are the same, come to make me the hap- 
piest of mankind.” 

Prince,” said the lady frankly, I must confess 
that such was not my intention, and I fear I shall 
never be able to do as you desire.” 

You surprise me, madam.” 

“ I can well believe it ; and if I had to do with a 
brute, instead of a gentleman of sense and feeling, I 
should be very uneasy,” returned she ; but since I 
speak with the cleverest man in the world, I am sure 
he will hear reason, and will not bind me, now a sen- 
sible woman, to a promise I made when I was only a 
fool.” 

If I were a fool myself, madam, I might well com- 
plain of your broken promise; and being, as you say, 
a man of sense, should I not complain of what takes 
away all the happiness of my life ? Tell me candidly, 
is there anything in me, except my ugliness, which dis- 
pleases you? Do you object to my birth, my temper, 
my manners ? ” 

Ko, truly,” replied the princess ; I like every- 
thing in you, except ” — and she hesitated courteously 
— except your appearance.” 

Then, madam, I need not lose my happiness ; for 
if I have the gift of making clever whosoever I love 
best, you also are able to make the person you prefer 
as handsome as ever you please. Could you love me 
enough to do that ? ” 

I think I could,” said the princess ; and her heart 


126 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


being greatly softened towards him, she wished that he 
might become the handsomest prince in all the world. 
No sooner had she done so than Riquet with the Tuft 
appeared in her eyes the most elegant young man she 
had ever seen. 

Ill-natured people have said that this was no fairy- 
gift, but that love created the change. They declare 
that the princess, when she thought over her lover’s 
perseverance, patience, good-humor, and discretion, 
and counted his numerous fine qualities of mind and 
disposition, saw no longer the deformity of his body 
or the plainness of his features ; that his hump was 
merely an exaggerated stoop, and his awkward move- 
ments became only an interesting eccentricity. Nay, 
even his eyes, which squinted terribly, seemed always 
looking on all sides for her, in token of his violent 
love, and his great red nose gave him an air very 
martial and heroic. 

However this may be, it is certain that the princess 
married him ; that either she retained her good sense, 
or he never felt the want of it ; and he never again 
became ugly — or, at least, not in his wife’s eyes ; so 
they both lived very happy until they died. 


HOUSE ISLAND. 

There lived in Norway, not far from the city of 
Drontheim, a rich and prosperous gentleman. He had 
an only daughter, called Aslog, the fame of whose 
beauty spread far and wide. The greatest men of the 
country sought her, but all were alike unsuccessful in 
their suit. Her father, who thought his daughter de- 
layed her choice only that she might choose the better, 
forbore to interfere, and exulted in her prudence. But 


HOUSE ISLAND. 


127 


when, at length, the richest and noblest had tried their 
fortune with as little success as the rest, he grew angry, 
called his daughter, and said to her : 

Hitherto I have left you to your free choice, but 
since I see that you reject all without any distinction, 
and the very best of your suitors seem not good enough 
for you, I will keep measures no longer with you. 
What ! shall my family become extinct, and my inheri- 
tance pass away into the hands of strangers ? I will 
break your stubborn spirit. I give you now till the 
festival of the great Winter-night ; by that time you 
must make your decision, or prepare to accept the 
husband whom I myself shall select.” 

Now Aslog secretly loved a youth named Orm, hand- 
some, noble, and brave. She loved him with her whole 
soul, and would sooner die than bestow her hand on 
another. But Orm was poor, and poverty compelled 
him to keep his love as secret as her own. 

When Aslog saw the darkness of her father’s coun- 
tenance, and heard his angry words, she turned pale 
as death, for she knew his temper, and doubted not 
but that he would put his threats into execution. 
Without uttering a word in reply, she retired to her 
chamber, and pondered vainly how to escape the storm 
that hung over her. The great festival approached 
nearer and nearer, and her anguish increased every 
day. 

At last the lovers resolved on flight. Orm knew a 
secure place, where they could hide until they found an 
opportunity of quitting the country. So at night, 
when all were asleep, he led the trembling Aslog over 
the snow and ice-fields away to the mountains. The 
moon and the stars lighted them on their way. They 
had under their arms a few articles of dress and some 
skins of animals, which were all they could carry. 
They ascended the mountains the whole night long. 


128 


THE FAIHY BOOK. 


till they reached a lonely spot inclosed with lofty 
rocks. Here Orm conducted the weary Aslog into a 
cave, the low and narrow entrance to which was hardly 
perceptible, but it soon enlarged to a great hall, reach- 
ing deep into the mountain. He kindled a fire, and 
they now, reposing on their skins, sat in the deepest 
solitude far away from all the world. 

Orm was the first who had discovered this cave, 
which is shown to this very day. But as no one then 
knew anything of it, they were safe from the pursuit 
of Aslog’s father. They passed the whole winter in 
this retirement, contented and even happy ; for they 
knew they were married, and belonged to one another, 
and no cruel father could separate them more. Orm 
used to go a-hunting, and Aslog stayed at home in the 
cave, minded the fire, and prepared the necessary food. 
Frequently did she mount the points of the rocks, but 
her eyes, did they wander ever so far, saw only glitter- 
ing snow-fields. 

The spring now came on — the woods were green — 
the meadows put on their various colors, people began 
to wander out for summer pleasuring, and Aslog could 
but rarely and with circumspection venture to leave the 
cave. One evening Orm came in with the intelligence 
that he had recognized her father’s servants in the 
distance, and that he could hardly have been unob- 
served by them. They will surround this place,” 
continued he, and never rest till they have found us ; 
we must quit our retreat, then, without a moment’s 
delay.” 

They accordingly descended on the other side of the 
mountain, and reached the strand, where they fortu- 
nately found a boat. Orm pushed off, and the boat 
drove into the open sea. They had escaped their pur- 
suers, but they were now exposed to dangers of an- 
other kind. Whither should they turn ? They could 


HOUSE ISLAND. 


129 


not venture to land, for Aslog’s father was lord of the 
whole coast, and they would infallibly fall into his 
hands. Nothing then remained for them but to com- 
mit their bark to the wind and waves. They were 
driven along the entire night. At break of day the 
coast had disappeared, and they saw nothing but 
the sky, the sea, and the waves. They had not 
brought one morsel of food with them, and thirst and 
hunger began now to torment them. Three days did 
they toss about in this state of misery, and Aslog, 
faint and exhausted, saw nothing but certain death 
before her. 

At length, on the evening of the third day, they 
discovered an island of tolerable magnitude, and sur- 
rounded by a number of smaller ones. Orm immedi- 
ately steered for it, but just as he came near it, there 
suddenly rose a violent wind, and the sea rolled every 
moment higher and higher. He turned about with a 
view of approaching it on another side, but with no 
better success ; his vessel, as often as it neared the 
island, was driven back as if by an invisible power. 

God help us ! ” he cried, and crossed himself , and 
looked on poor Aslog, who seemed to be dying of 
weakness before his eyes. But scarcely had the excla- 
mation passed his lips when the storm ceased, the waves 
subsided, and the vessel came to the shore without 
encountering any hindrance. Orm jumped out on the 
beach. Some mussels that he found on the strand 
strengthened and revived the exhausted Aslog, so that 
she was soon able to leave the boat. 

The island was overgrown with low dwarf shrubs, 
and seemed to be uninhabited ; but when they had 
reached the middle of it, they discovered a house, 
which appeared to be half under the surface of the 
earth. In the hope of meeting with human help, the 
wanderers approached it. They listened, but the most 


130 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


perfect silence reigned there. Orm at length opened 
the door, and they both walked in ; but what was their 
surprise to find everything regulated and arranged as if 
for inhabitants, yet not a single living creature visible. 
The fire was burning on the hearth in the middle of 
the room, and a kettle with fish hung on it, apparently 
only waiting for some one to take it up and eat it. The 
beds were made, and ready to receive their wearied ten- 
ants. Orm and Aslog stood for some time dubious, and 
looked on with a certain degree of awe, but at last, over- 
come by hunger, they took up the food and ate. When 
they had satisfied their appetites, and still discovered 
no human being, they gave way to weariness, and laid 
themselves in the beds, which looked so peaceful and 
inviting to their wearied limbs. 

They had expected to be awakened in the night by 
the owners of the house on their return home, but their 
expectation was not fulfilled ; they slept undisturbed 
till the morning sun shone in upon them. No one 
appeared on any of the following days, and it seemed 
as if some invisible power had made ready the house for 
their reception. They spent the whole summer in per- 
fect happiness ; they were, to be sure, solitary, yet they 
did not miss mankind. The wild birds’ eggs, and the 
fish they caught, yielded them provisions in abundance. 

When autumn came, Aslog brought forth a son. In 
the midst of their joy at this they were surprised by 
a wonderful apparition. The door opened on a sud- 
den, and an old woman stepped in. She wore a hand- 
some blue dress. There was something proud, but at 
the same time something strange, in her appearance. 

Do not be afraid,” said she, at my unexpected 
appearance. I am the owner of this house, and I 
thank you for the clean and neat state in which you 
have kept it, and for the good order in which I find 
everything with you. I would willingly have come 


HOUSE ISLAND. 


131 


sooner, but I had no power to do so till this little 
heathen (pointing to the newborn babe) was come to 
the light. Now I have free access. Only fetch no 
priest from the mainland to christen it, or I must 
depart again. If you will in this matter comply with 
my wishes, you may not only continue to live here, 
but all the good that ever you can wish for I will do 
you. Whatever you take in hand shall prosper ; good 
luck shall follow you wherever you go. But break 
this condition, and depend upon it that misfortune 
after misfortune will come on you, and even on this 
child will I avenge myself. If you want anything, or 
are in danger, you have only to pronounce my name 
three times, and I will appear and lend you assistance. 
I am of the race of the old giants, and my name is 
Guru. But beware of uttering in my presence the 
name of Him whom no giant may hear of, and never 
venture to make the sign of the cross, or to cut it on 
beam or board in the house. You may dwell in this 
house the whole year long, only be so good as to give 
it up to me on Yule evening, when the sun is at the 
lowest, as then we celebrate our great festival, and 
then only are we permitted to be merry. At least, if 
you should not be willing to go out of the house, keep 
yourselves up in the loft as quiet as possible the 
whole day long, and as you value your lives do not 
look down into the room below until midnight is 
past. After that you may take possession of every- 
thing again.’’ 

When the old woman had thus spoken she vanished, 
and Aslog and Orm lived without any disturbance, 
contented and happy. Orm never made a cast of 
his net without getting a plentiful draught ; he never 
shot an arrow from his bow that it was not sure to 
hit ; in short, whatever they took in hand, were it 
ever so trifling, evidently prospered. 


132 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


When Christmas came they cleaned up the house 
in the best manner, set everything in order, kindled 
a fire on the hearth, and as the twilight approached 
they went up to the loft, where they remained quite 
still and quiet. At length it grew dark ; they thought 
they heard a sound of whizzing and snorting in the 
air, such as the swans used to make in the winter time. 
There was a hole in the roof over the fireplace, which 
might be opened and shut either to let in the light 
from above, or to afford a free passage for the smoke. 
Orm lifted up the lid, which was covered with a skin, 
and put out his head. But what a wonderful sight 
then presented itself to his eyes ! The little islands 
around were all lit up with countless blue lights, 
which moved about without ceasing, jumped up and 
down, then skipped to the shore, assembled together, 
and came nearer and nearer to the large island where 
Orm and Aslog lived. At last they reached it, and 
arranged themselves in a circle around a large stone 
not far from the shore, and which Orm well knew. 
But what was his surprise when he saw that the stone 
had now completely assumed the form of a man, 
though a monstrous and gigantic one ! He could 
clearly perceive that the little blue lights were borne 
by Dwarfs, whose pale clay-colored faces, with their 
huge noses and red eyes, disfigured too by birds’ bills 
and owls’ eyes, were supported by misshapen bodies ; 
and they tottered and wabbled about here and there, 
so that they seemed to be at the same time merry and 
in pain. Suddenly the circle opened ; the little ones 
retired on each side, and Guru — who was the woman 
Guru, whom Orm recognized immediately, though she 
had risen in stature and size so as to be almost as 
gigantic as the stone man — advanced towards it. 
She threw both her arms round the image, which 
immediately seemed to receive life and motion. Then 


HOUSE ISLAND. 


133 \. 


the Dwarfs, with wonderful capers and grimaces, 
began a song, or, to speak more properly, a howl, with 
which the whole island resounded, and almost trembled 
at the noise. Orm, quite terrified, drew in his head, 
and he and Aslog remained in the dark, so still that 
they hardly ventured to draw their breath. 

The procession moved on towards the house, as 
might be clearly perceived by the nearer approach of 
the shouting and crying. They were now all come in, 
light and active ; the Dwarfs were heard jumping about 
on the benches, and heavy and loud sounded at intervals 
the steps of the giants. Orm and his wife listened 
to the clattering of the plates and the shouts of joy 
with which they celebrated their banquet. When it was 
over, and midnight drew near, they began to dance to 
that ravishing fairy-tune which some have heard in 
the rocky glens, and learned by listening to the under- 
ground musicians. As soon as Aslog caught the 
sound of this air she felt an irresistible longing to 
see the dance. Nor was Orm able to keep her back. 

Let me look, ” said she, or my heart will burst.” 
She took her child and placed herself at the extreme 
end of the loft, whence, without being observed, she 
could see all that passed. Long did she gaze, without 
taking off her eyes for an instant, on the dance, on 
the bold and wonderful springs of the little creatures, 
who seemed to float in the air, and not so much as to 
touch the ground, while the ravishing melody of the 
Elves filled her whole •soul. The child, meanwhile, 
which lay in her arms grew sleepy and drew its breath 
heavily, and, without ever thinking on the promise 
she had given the old woman, she made, as is usual, 
the sign of the cross over the mouth of the child, and 
said, Christ bless you, my babe ! ” 

The instant she had spoken the word there was 
raised a horrible, piercing cry. The Dwarfs tumbled 


134 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


head over heels out at the door with terrible crush- 
ing and crowding, their lights went out, and in a few 
minutes the whole house was clear of them and 
left desolate. Orm and Aslog, frightened to death, 
hid themselves in the most retired nook they could 
find. They did not venture to stir till daybreak, and 
not till the sun shone through the hole in the roof 
down on the fireplace did they feel courage enough to 
descend from the loft. 

The table remained still covered as the underground 
people had left it ; all their vessels, which were of 
silver, and manufactured in the most beautiful man- 
ner, lay upon it. In the middle of the room there 
stood upon the ground a huge copper kettle half full 
of sweet mead, and by the side of it a drinking-horn 
of pure gold. In the corner rested, against the wall, 
a stringed instrument not unlike a dulcimer, which, as 
people believe, the Giantesses used to play on. They 
gazed on what was before them, full of admiration, 
but without venturing to lay their hands on anything ; 
how great and fearful was their amazement when, on 
turning about, they saw sitting at the table an im- 
mense figure, which Orm instantly recognized as the 
Giant whom Guru had animated by her embrace. He 
was now a cold and hard stone. While they were stand- 
ing gazing on it. Guru herself entered the room in her 
giant form. She wept so bitterly that her tears trickled 
down on the ground. It was long ere her sobbing per- 
mitted her to utter a single word ; at last she spoke : 

“ Great affliction have you brought on me, and hence- 
forth I must weep while I live ; yet as I know that you 
have not done this with evil intentions, I forgive you, 
though it were a trifle for me to crush the whole house 
like an egg-shell over your heads.’’ 

What have we done ? ” cried Orm and Aslog, 
penetrated with the deepest sorrow. 


HOUSE ISLAND. 


135 


Alas ! ’’ answered she, my husband, whom 1 love 
more than myself, there he sits, petrified for ever ; 
never again will he open his eyes ! Three hundred 
years lived I with my father on the Island of Kunnan, 
happy in the innocence of youth, as the fairest among 
the Giant-maidens. Mighty heroes sued for my hand. 
The sea around that island is still filled with the rocky 
fragments which they hurled againt each other in their 
combats. Andfind won the victory, and I plighted 
myself to him. But ere I was married came the 
detestable Odin into the country, who overcame my 
father, and drove us all from the island. My father 
and sisters fled to the mountains, and since that time 
my eyes have beheld them no more. Andfind and I 
saved ourselves on this island, where we for a long 
time lived in peace and quiet, and thought it would 
never be interrupted. But destiny, which no one 
escapes, had determined it otherwise. Oluf came 
from Britain. They called him the Holy, and Andfind 
instantly found that his voyage would be inauspicious 
to the Giants. When he heard how Oluf’s ship rushed 
through the waves, he went down to the strand and 
blew the sea against him with all his strength. The 
waves swelled up like mountains. But Oluf was still 
more mighty than he ; his ship flew unchecked through 
the billows like an arrow from a bow. He steered 
direct for our island. When the ship was so near that 
Andfind thought he could reach it with his hands, he 
grasped at the fore part with his right hand, and was 
about to drag it down to the bottom, as he had often 
done with other ships. But Oluf, the terrible Oluf, 
stepped forward, and crossing his hands over each 
other, he cried with a loud voice, ^ Stand there as a 
stone till the last day,^ and in the same instant my 
unhappy husband became a mass of rock. The 
ship sailed on unimpeded, and ran direct against the 


136 


THE EAIKY BOOK. 


mountain, which it cut through, and separated from 
it the little island which lies out yonder. 

Ever have I passed my life alone and forlorn. On 
Yule eve alone can petrified Giants receive back their 
life for the space of seven hours, if one of their race 
embraces them, and is at the same time willing to 
sacrifice a hundred years. I loved my husband too 
well not to bring him back to life every time that I 
could do it, even at this price, and I have not even 
counted how often I have done it, that I might not 
know the hour when I myself should share his fate, 
and at the moment when I threw my arms around 
him become stone like him. But, alas ! even this 
comfort is taken from me ; I can never more by any 
embrace awake him. He has heard the Name which 
I dare not utter, and never again will he see the light 
until the dawn of the last day shall bring it. 

I now go hence, and you will behold me no more. 
All that is here in the house I give you ; my dulcimer 
alone will I keep. But let no one venture to fix his 
habitation on the small islands that lie around here. 
There dwell the little underground people whom you 
saw at the festival, and I will j)rotect them as long as 
I live ! ” 

With these words Guru vanished. The next spring 
Orm took the golden horn and the silver-'v^are to 
Drontheim, where no one knew him. The value of 
these precious metals was so great that he was able 
to purchase everything requisite for a wealthy man. 
He laded his ship with his purchases, and returned 
back to the island, where he spent many years in unal- 
loyed happiness, and Aslog’s father was soon recon- 
ciled to his wealthy son-in-law. 

The huge image remained sitting in the house ; no 
human power was able to move it. So hard was the 
stone that hammer and axe flew in pieces without 


SNOW-AY HITE AND ROSE-RED. 


137 


making the slightest impression upon it. The giant 
sat there till a holy man came to the island, who with 
one single word removed him back to his former 
station, where he stands to this hour. The copper 
kettle, which the underground people left behind 
them, was preserved as a memorial upon the island, 
which bears the name of House Island to the present 
day. 


SNOW-WHITE AND EOSE-EED. 

A POOR widow lived alone in a little cottage, in 
front of which was a garden, where stood two little 
rose-trees ; one bore white roses, the other red. The 
widow had two children, who resembled the two rose- 
trees ; one was called Snow-white and the other Eose- 
red. They were two of the best children that ever 
lived ; but Snow-white was quieter and more gentle 
than Eose-red. Eose-red liked best to jump about in 
the meadows, to look for flowers and catch butterflies ; 
but Snow-white sat at home with her mother, helj^ed 
her in the house, or read to her when there was nothing 
else to do. The two children loved one another so 
much that they always walked hand in hand; and 
when Snow-white said, ^^We will not forsake one 
another,^’ Eose-red answered, Never as long as we 
live ; ” and the mother added, Yes, my children, what- 
ever one has, let her divide with the other.” They 
often ran about in solitary places, and gathered red 
berries ; and the Avild creatures of the Avood never hurt 
them, but came confidingly up to them. The little hare 
ate cabbage-leaves out of their hands, the doe grazed 
at their side, the stag sprang merrily past them, and 
the birds remained sitting on the boughs, and never 
ceased their songs. They met with no accident if they 


138 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


loitered in the wood and night came on ; they lay down j 
together on the moss, and slejot till morning ; and the 
mother knew this, and was in no anxiety about them. j 
Once, when they had spent the night in the wood, and j 
the red morning awoke them, they saw a beautiful j 
child in a shining white dress, sitting by the place | 
where they had slept, who, arising, and looking at 
them kindly, said nothing, but went into the wood. 
And when they looked round, they found out that they 
had been sleeping close to a precipice, and would cer- 
tainly have fallen down it if they had gone a few steps 
farther in the dark. Their mother told them it must ; 
have been the angel that takes care of good children 
who had sat by them all night long. ’ 

Snow-white and Eose-red kept their mother’s cottage 
so clean that it was a pleasure to look into it. In the 
summer Kose-red managed the house, and every morn- 
ing she gathered a nosegay in which was a rose off 
each tree, and set it by her mother’s bed before she 
awoke. In winter Snow-white lighted the fire, and 
hung the kettle on the hook ; and though it was only 
copper, it shone like gold, it was rubbed so clean. In 
the evening, when the snow fell, the mother said. 

Go, Snow-white, and bolt the door ; ” and then they 
seated themselves on the hearth, and the mother took 
her spectacles and read aloud out of a great book, and 
the two girls listened, and sat and spun. Near them 
lay a Iamb on the floor, and behind them, on a perch, 
sat a white dove, with its head under its wing. 

One evening, as they were thus happy together, 
some one knocked to be let in. The mother said. 
Quick, Kose-red, open the door ; perhaps it is a 
traveller who seeks shelter.” Kose-red went and 
pushed the bolt back, and thought it was a poor man, 
but a bear stretched his thick black head into the 
door. Kose-red screamed and sprang back, the little 


SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED. 


139 


lamb bleated, the little dove fluttered about, and Snow- 
white hid herself behind her mother^s bed. However, 
the bear began to speak, and said, “ Do not be 
frightened, I will do you no harm ; I am half frozen, 
and only want to warm myself a little.” 

You poor bear,” said the mother, lay yourself 
down before the fire, only take care your fur does not 
burn.” Then she called out, Snow-white and Eose- 
red, come out ; the bear will not hurt you — he means 
honestly by us.” Then they both came out, and, by 
degrees, the lamb and the dove also approached, and 
ceased to be afraid. The bear said, Children, knock 
the snow a little out of my fur ; ” and they fetched a 
broom, and swept the bear’s skin clean ; and he 
stretched himself before the fire and growled softly, 
like a bear that was quite happy and comfortable. In 
a short time they all became quite friendly together, 
and the children played tricks with the awkward guest. 
They pulled his hair, set their feet on his back, and 
rolled him here and there ; or took a hazel-rod and beat 
him, and when he growled they laughed. The bear 
was very much pleased with this frolic, only, when 
they became too mischievous, he called out : Children, 
leave me alone — 

‘ Little Snow-white and Rose-red, 

You will strike your lover dead.’ ” 

When bedtime came, and the others went to sleep, the 
mother said to the bear, You can lie there on the 
hearth, and then you will be sheltered from the cold 
and the bad weather.” At daybreak the two children 
let him out, and he trotted over the snow into the wood. 
Henceforward the bear came every evening at the same 
hour, laid himself on the hearth, and allowed the chil- 
dren to play with him as much as they liked ; and they 
became so used to him that the door was never bolted 


140 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


until ttieir black companion had arrived. When spring 
came, and everything was green out of doors, the bear 
said one morning to Snow-white, Now I must go 
away, and may not come again the whole summer.” 

Where are you going, dear Bear ? ” asked Snow- 
white. 

‘‘ I must go into the wood, and guard my treasures 
from the bad dwarfs ; in winter, when the ground is 
frozen hard, they have to stay underneath, and cannot 
work their way through, but now that the sun has 
thawed and warmed the earth they break through, 
come up, seek, and steal ; what is once in their hands, 
and lies in their caverns, does not come so easily into 
daylight again.” Snow-white was quite sorrowful at 
parting, and she unbolted the door for ‘him, and the 
bear ran out, the hook of the door caught him, and a 
piece of his skin tore off. It seemed to Snow-white as 
if she had seen gold shining through, but she was not 
sure. But the bear ran quickly away, and soon disap- 
peared behind the trees. 

After some time their mother sent the children into 
the wood to collect faggots. They found there a large 
tree, which had been cut down and lay on the ground, 
and by the trunk something was jumping up end 
down, but they could not tell what it was. As they 
came nearer they saw that it was a dwarf, with an old 
withered face, and a snow-white beard a yard long. 
The end of the beard was stuck fast in a cleft in the 
tree, and the little fellow jumped about like a dog on 
a rope, and did not know how to help himself. He 
stared at the girls with his fiery red eyes, and screamed 
out, Why do you stand there ? Can’t you come and 
render me some assistance ? ” 

What is the matter with you, little man ? ” asked 
Rose-red. 

“ Stupid little goose ! ” answered the dwarf ; “ I 


SNOW-WHITE AND ROSE-RED. 


141 


wanted to chop the tree, so as to have some small pieces 
of wood for the kitchen ; we only want little bits ; 
with thick logs, the small quantity of food that we 
cook for onrselves — we are not, like yon, great greedy 
people — burns directly. I had driven the wedge well 
in, and it was all going on right, but the detestable 
wood was too smooth, and sprang out unexpectedly ; 
and the tree closed up so quickly that I could not 
pull my beautiful white beard out. Now it is sticking 
there, and I can’t get away. There, you foolish, soft 
milk-faces ! You are laughing and crying out, ^ How 
ugly you are ! How ugly you are ! ’ ” 

The children took a great deal of trouble, but they 
could not pull the beard out ; it stuck too fast. 

‘‘ I will run and fetch somebody,” said Rose-red. 

You great ninny ! ” snarled the dwarf, to want 
to call more people ; you are two too many for me now. 
Can’t you think of anything better ? ” 

“ Only don’t be impatient,” said Snow-white ; I have 
thought of something ; ” and she took her little scissors 
out of her pocket, and cut the end of the beard off. 

As soon as the dwarf felt himself free, he seized a 
sack filled with gold that was sticking betAveen the 
roots of the tree ; pulling it out, he growled to him- 
self, You rude people, to cut off a piece of my beau- 
tiful beard ! May evil reward you ! ” Then he threw 
his sack over his shoulders and walked away, without 
once looking at the children. 

Some time afterwards Snow-white and Rose-red 
wished to catch some fish for dinner. As they came 
near to the stream they saw that something like a 
grasshopper was jumping towards the water, as if it 
were going to spring in. They ran on and recognized 
the dwarf. 

Where are you going ? ” asked Rose-red. You 
don’t want to go into the water ? ” 


142 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


I 

“ I am not such, a fool as that/’ cried the dwarf. 1 

Don’t you see the detestable fish wants to pull me \ 
in ? ” 

The little fellow had been sitting there fishing, and, 
unluckily, the wind had entangled his beard with the i 
line. When directly afterwards a great fish bit at | 
his hook, the weak creature could not pull him out, so | 
the fish was pulling the dwarf into the water. It is i 

true he caught hold of all the reeds and rushes, j 

but that did not help him much ; he had to follow all ^ 

the movements of the fish, and was in imminent danger j 

of being drowned. The girls, coming at the right j 

time, held him fast and tried to get the beard loose | 

from the line, but in vain — beard and line were | 

entangled fast together. There was nothing to do but i 

to pull out the scissors and to cut off the beard, in 1 

doing which a little piece of it was lost. When the ! 

dwarf saw that, he cried out, Is that manners, you j 

goose ! — to disfigure one’s face so ? Is it not enough J 

that you once cut my beard shorter ? But now you i 

have cut the best part of it off, I dare not be seen by ’ 

my people. I wish you had had to run, and had lost j 

the soles of your shoes ! ” Then he fetched a sack of 
pearls that lay among the rushes, and, without saying ■ 
a word more, he dragged it away and disappeared \ 
behind a stone. 

Soon after, the mother sent the two girls to the town ' ^ 
to buy cotton, needles, cord, and' tape. The road led 3 

them by a heath, scattered over which lay great masses | 

of rock. There they saw a large bird hovering in the I 

air ; it fiew round and round just above them, always j 

sinking lower and lower, and at last it settled down j 

by a rock not far distant. Directly after, they heard | 

a piercing, wailing cry. They ran up, and saw with 
horror that the eagle had seized their old acquaintance ^ 
the dwarf, and was going to carry him off. The com- \ 

\ 


SNOW-AY HITE AND EOSE-RED. 


143 


passionate children instantly seized hold of the little 
man, held him fast, and struggled so long that the 
eagle let his prey go. 

When the dwarf had recovered from his first fright 
he called out, in his shrill voice, Could you not deal 
rather more gently with me ? You have torn my thin 
coat all in tatters, awkward, clumsy creatures that you 
are ! ” Then he took a sack of precious stones, and 
slipped behind the rock again into his den. The girls, 
who were used to his ingratitude, went on their way 
and completed their business in the town. As they 
were coming home again over the heath they surprised 
the dwarf, who had emptied his sack of precious 
stones on a little clean place, and had not thought 
that any one would come by there so late. The even- 
ing sun shone on the glittering stones, which looked 
so beautiful in all their colors that the children could 
not help standing still to gaze. 

a Why do you stand there gaping ? ’’ cried the dwarf, 
his ash-colored face turning vermilion Avith anger. 

With these cross words he was going away, when 
he heard a loud roaring, and a black bear trotted out 
of the wood towards them. The dwarf sprang up 
terrified, but he could not get to his lurking-hole again 
— the bear was already close upon him. Then he 
called out in anguish : 

Dear Mr. Bear, spare me, and you shall have all 
my treasures ; look at the beautiful precious stones 
that lie there. Give me my life ! for what do you 
want with a poor thin little fellow like me ? You 
would scarcely feel me between your teeth. Bather 
seize those two wicked girls ; they will be tender mor- 
sels for you, as fat as young quails ; pray, eat them at 
once.^’ 

The bear, without troubling himself to answer, gave 
the malicious creature one single stroke with his paw, 


144 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


and he did not move again. The girls had run away, 
but the bear called after them, Snow-white and 
Eose-red, do not be frightened ; wait, I will go with 
you.” Eecognizing the voice of their old friend, they 
stood still, and when the bear came up to them his 
skin suddenly fell off ; and behold he was not a bear, 
but a handsome young man dressed all in gold. 

I am a king’s son,” said he ; I was changed by 
the wicked dwarf, who had stolen all my treasures, 
into a wild bear, and obliged to run about in the wood 
until I should be freed by his death. Now he has 
received his well-deserved punishment.” 

So they all went home together to the widow’s cot- 
tage, and Snow-white was married to the prince, and 
Eose-red to his brother. They divided between them 
the great treasures which the dwarf had amassed. 
The old mother lived many quiet and happy years 
with her children ; but when she left her cottage for 
the palace she took the two rose-trees with her, and 
they stood before her window and bore every year the 
most beautiful roses — one white and the other red. 


JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. 

In the days of King Alfred there lived a poor 
woman, whose cottage was in a remote country village, 
many miles from London. She had been a widow 
some years, and had an only child named Jack, whom 
she indulged so much that he never paid the least 
attention to anything she said, but was indolent, care- 
less, and extravagant. His follies were not owing to 
a bad disposition, but to his mother’s foolish partiality. 
By degrees he spent all that she had — scarcely any- 
thing remained but a cow. One day, for the first time 


JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. 


145 


in her life, she reproached him : Cruel, cruel boy ! 
you have at last brought me to beggary. I have not 
money enough to purchase even a bit of bread ; noth- 
ing now remains to sell but my poor cow ! I am sorry 
to part with her ; it grieves me sadly, but we cannot 
starve.” For a few minutes Jack felt remorse, but it 
was soon over, and he began asking his mother to let 
him sell the cow at the next village, teasing her so 
much that she at last consented. As he was going 
along he met a butcher, who inquired why he was 
driving the cow from home. eFack replied, he was 
going to sell it. The butcher held some curious beans 
in his hat ; they were of various colors, and attracted 
Jack’s attention. This did not pass unnoticed by the 
man, who, knowing Jack’s easy temper, thought now 
was the time to take an advantage of it ; and, deter- 
mined not to let slip so good an opportunity, asked 
what was the price of the cow, offering at the same 
time all the beans in his hat for her. The silly boy 
could not conceal the pleasure he felt at what he sup- 
posed so great an olfer. The bargain was struck in- 
stantly, and the cow exchanged for a few paltry 
beans. Jack made the best of his way home, calling 
aloud to his mother before he reached the door, think- 
ing to surprise her. 

When she saw the beans, and heard Jack’s account, 
her patience quite forsook her ; she tossed the beans 
out of the window, where they fell on the garden-bed 
below. Then she threw her apron over her head, and 
cried bitterly. Jack attempted to console her, but in 
vain, and, not having anything to eat, they both went 
supperless to bed. Jack awoke early in the morning, 
and seeing something uncommon darkening the window 
of his bed-chamber, ran downstairs into the garden, 
where he found some of the beans had taken root, and 
sprung up surprisingly. The stalks were of an immense 


146 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


thickness, and had twined together until they formed 
a ladder like a chain, and so high that the top appeared 
to be lost in the clouds. Jack was an adventurous lad ; 
he determined to climb up to the top, and ran to tell 
his mother, not doubting but that she would be equally 
pleased with himself. She declared he should not go ; 
said it would break her heart if he did ; entreated and 
threatened, but all in vain. Jack set out, and after 
climbing for some hours reached the top of the bean- 
stalk, quite exhausted. Looking around he found him- 
self in a strange country. It appeared to be a barren 
desert ; not a tree, shrub, house, or living creature was 
to be seen ; here and there were scattered fragments 
of stone, and at unequal distances small heaps of 
earth were loosely thrown together. 

Jack seated himself pensively upon a block of stone, 
and thought of his mother ; he reflected with sorrow 
upon his disobedience in climbing the bean-stalk against 
her will, and concluded that he must die of hunger. 
However, he walked on, hoping to see a house where 
he might beg something to eat and drink. He did not 
find it ; but he saw at a distance a beautiful lady, walk- 
ing all alone. She was elegantly clad, and carried a 
white wand, at the top of which sat a peacock of pure 
gold. 

Jack, who was a gallant fellow, went straight up to 
her, when, with a bewitching, smile, she asked him 
how he came there. He told her all about the bean- 
stalk. The lady answered him by a question, Do you 
remember your father, young man ? ” 

‘^No, madam ; but I am sure there is some mystery 
about him, for when I name him to my mother she 
always begins to weep, and will tell me nothing.” 

“ She dare not,” replied the lady, “ but I can and 
will. For know, young man, that I am a fairy, and 
was your father’s guardian. But fairies are bound by 


JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. 


147 


laws as well as mortals ; and by an error of mine I lost 
my power for a term of years, so that I was unable to 
succor your father when he most needed it, and he 
died.’’ Here the fairy looked so sorrowful that Jack’s 
heart warmed to her, and he begged her earnestly to 
tell him more. 

“ I will ; only you must promise to obey me in every- 
thing, or you will perish yourself.” 

Jack was brave, and, besides, his fortunes were so 
bad they could not well be worse, — so he promised. 

The fairy continued: ^‘Your father. Jack, was a 
most excellent, amiable, generous man. He had a 
good wife, faithful servants, plenty of money ; but he 
had one misfortune — a false friend. This was a giant, 
whom he had succored in misfortune, and who re- 
turned his kindness by murdering him and seizing on 
all his property ; also making your mother take a 
solemn oath that she would never tell you anything 
about your father, or he would murder both her and 
you. Then he turned her off with you in her arms, 
to wander about the wide world as she might. I could 
not help her, as my power only returned on the day 
you went to sell your cow. 

“ It was I,” added the fairy, who impelled you to 
take the beans, who made the bean-stalk grow, and 
inspired you with the desire to climb up it to this 
strange country ; for it is here the wicked giant lives 
who was your father’s destroyer. It is you who must 
avenge him, and rid the world of a monster who never 
will do anything but evil. I will assist you. You may 
lawfully take possession of his house and all his riches, 
for everything he has belonged to your father, and is 
therefore yours. Now, farewell ! Do not let your 
mother know you are acquainted with your father’s 
history ; this is my command, and if you disobey me 
you will suffer for it. Now go.” 


148 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Jack asked where he was to go. 

Along the direct road, till you see the house 
where the giant lives. You must then act according 
to your own just judgment, and I will guide you if any 
difficulty arises. Farewell ! ” 

She bestowed on the youth a benignant smile, and 
vanished. 

Jack pursued his journey. He walked on till after 
sunset, when, to his great joy, he espied a large man- 
sion. A plain-looking woman was at the door ; he 
accosted her, begging she would give him a morsel of 
bread and a night’s lodging. She expressed the 
greatest surprise, and said it was quite uncommon to 
see a human being near their house ; for it was well 
known that her husband was a powerful giant, who 
would never eat anything but human flesh, if he could 
possibly get it; that he would walk fifty miles to 
procure it, usually being out the whole day for that 
purpose. 

This account greatly terrified Jack, but still he 
hoped to elude the giant, and therefore he again en- 
treated the woman to take him in for one night only, 
and hide him where she thought proper. She at last 
suffered herself to be persuaded, for she was of a 
compassionate and generous disposition, and took him 
into the house. First, they entered a fine large hall, 
magnificently furnished ; they then passed through 
several spacious rooms, in the same style of grandeur ; 
but all appeared forsaken and desolate. A long gallery 
came next ; it was very dark, just light enough to 
show that instead of a wall on one side, there was 
a grating of iron which parted off a dismal dungeon, 
from whence issued the groans of those victims whom 
the cruel giant reserved in confinement for his own 
voracious appetite. Poor Jack was half dead with 
fear, and would have given the world to have been 


JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. 


149 


with his mother again, for he now began to doubt if 
he should ever see her more ; he even mistrusted the 
good woman, and thought she had let him into the 
house for no other purpose than to lock him up 
among the unfortunate people in the dungeon. How- 
ever, she bade Jack sit down, and gave him plenty to 
eat and drink ; and he, not seeing anything jo make 
him uncomfortable, soon forgot his fear, and was just 
beginning to enjoy himself, when he was startled by 
a loud knocking at the outer door, which made the 
whole house shake. 

Ah ! that’s the giant ; aud if he sees you he will 
kill you and me too,” cried the poor woman, trem- 
bling all over. What shall I do ? ” 

Hide me in the oven,” cried Jack, now as bold as 
a lion at the thought of being face to face with his 
father’s cruel murderer. So he crept into the oven — 
for there was no fire near it — and listened to the 
giant’s loud voice and heavy step as he went up and 
down the kitchen scolding his wife. At last he 
seated himself at table, and Jack, peeping through a 
crevice in the oven, was amazed to see what a quantity 
of food he devoured. It seemed as if he never would 
have done eating and drinking ; but he did at last, 
and, leaning back, called to his wife in a voice like 
thunder : 

Bring me my hen ! ” 

She obeyed, and placed upon the table a very 
beautiful live hen. 

“ Lay ! ” roared the giant, and the hen laid immedi- 
ately an egg of solid gold. 

Lay another ! ” and every time the giant said this 
the hen laid a larger egg than before. 

He amused himself a long time with his hen, and 
then sent his wife to bed, while he fell asleep by the 
fireside, and snored like the roaring of cannon. 


150 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


As soon as he was asleep Jack crept out of the 
oven, seized the hen, and ran off with her. He got 
safely out of the house, and finding his way along the 
road he came, reached the top of the bean-stalk, which 
he descended in safety. 

His mother was overjoyed to see him. She thought 
he had come to some ill end. 

^^hlot a bit of it, mother. Look here ! and he 
showed her the hen. Now lay ! ” and the hen obeyed 
him as readily as the giant, and laid as many golden 
eggs as he desired. 

These eggs being sold. Jack and his mother got 
plenty of money, and for some months lived very 
happily together ; till Jack got another great longing 
to climb the bean-stalk, and carry away some more of 
the giant’s riches. He had told his mother of his 
adventure, but had been very careful not to say a 
word about his father. He thought of his journey 
again and again, but still he could not summon reso- 
lution enough to break it to his mother, being well 
assured that she would endeavor to prevent his going. 
However, one day he told her boldly that he must 
take another journey up the bean-stalk ; she begged 
and prayed him not to think of it, and tried all in her 
power to dissuade him. She' told him that the giant’s 
wife would certainly know him again, and that the 
giant would desire nothing better than to get him into 
his power, that he might put him to a cruel death, in 
order to be revenged for the loss of his hen. Jack, 
finding that all his arguments were useless, ceased 
speaking, though resolved to go at all events. He had 
a dress prepared which would disguise him, and some- 
thing to color his skin ; he thought it impossible for 
any one to recollect him in this dress. 

A few mornings after, he rose very early, and, 
unperceived by any one, climbed the bean-stalk a 



“Jack seized the Hen and ran off with Her.” 






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JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. 


151 


second time. He was greatly fatigued when he 
reached the top, and very hungry. Having rested 
some time on one of the stones, he pursued his journey 
to the giant's mansion, which he reached late in the 
evening; the woman was at the door as before. Jack 
addressed her, at the same time telling her a pitiful 
tale, and requesting that she would give him some 
victuals and drink, and also a night’s lodging. 

She told him (what he knew before very well) about 
her husband’s being a powerful and cruel giant, and 
also that she had one night admitted a poor, hungry, 
friendless bo}^ ; that the little ungrateful fellow had 
stolen one of the giant’s treasures ; and ever since that 
her husband had been worse than before, using her 
very cruelly, and continually upbraiding her with 
being the cause of his misfortune. Jack felt sorry for 
her, but confessed nothing, and did his best to per- 
suade her to admit him, but found it a very hard task. 
At last she consented, and as she led the way. Jack 
observed that everything was just as he had found it 
before. She took him into the kitchen, and after he 
had done eating and drinking, she hid him in an old 
lumber-closet. The giant returned at the usual time, 
and walked in so heavily that the house was shaken 
to its foundation. He seated himself by the fire, and 
soon after exclaimed, Wife, I smell fresh meat ! ” 

The wife replied it was the crows, which had brought 
a piece of raw meat and left it at the top of the house. 
While supper was preparing, the giant was very ill- 
tempered and impatient, frequently lifting up his hand 
to strike his wife for not being quick enough. He 
was also continually upbraiding her with the loss of 
his wonderful hen. 

At last, having ended his supper, he cried, Give 
me something to amuse me — my harp or my money- 
bags.” 


152 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Which will you have, my dear ? said the wife 
humbly. 

My money-bags, because they are the heaviest to 
carry,” thundered he. 

She brought them, staggering under the weight ; 
two bags — one filled with new guineas, and the other 
with new shillings ; she emptied them out on the 
table, and the giant began counting them in great glee. 

Now you may go to bed, you old fool.” So the wife 
crept away. 

Jack from his hiding-place watched the counting of 
the money, which he knew was his poor father’s, and 
wished it was his own ; it would give him much less 
trouble than going about selling the golden eggs. The 
giant, little thinking he was so narrowly observed, 
reckoned it all up, and then replaced it in the two 
bags, which he tied up very carefully and put beside 
his chair, with his little dog to guard them. At last 
he fell asleep as before, and snored so loud that Jack 
compared his noise to the roaring of the sea in a high 
wind, when the tide is coming in. At last Jack, con- 
cluding all secure, stole out, in order to carry off the 
two bags of money ; but just as he laid his hand upon 
one of them, the little dog, which he had not seen be- 
fore, started from under the giant’s chair, and barked 
most furiously. Instead of endeavoring to escape. 
Jack stood still, though expecting his enemy to awake 
every instant. Contrary, however, to his expectation, 
the giant continued in a sound sleep, and Jack, seeing 
a piece of meat, threw it to the dog, who at once 
ceased barking, and began to devour it. So Jack car- 
ried off the bags, one on each shoulder, but they were 
so heavy that it took him two whole days to descend 
the bean-stalk and get back to his mother’s door. 

When he came he found the cottage deserted. He 
ran from one room to another, without being able to 


JACK AND THE BEAN-STALK. 


153 


find any one. He then hastened into the village, hop- 
ing to see some of the neighbors who could inform 
him where he could find his mother. An old woman 
at last directed him to a neighboring house, where she 
was ill of a fever. He was greatly shocked at finding 
her apparently dying, and blamed himself bitterly as 
the cause of it all. However, at sight of her dear 
son, the poor woman revived, and slowly recovered 
health. Jack gave her his two money-bags. They had 
the cottage rebuilt and well furnished, and lived hap- 
pier than they had ever done before. 

For three years Jack heard no more of the bean- 
stalk, but he could not forget it, though he feared 
making his mother unhappy. It was in vain endeav- 
oring to amuse himself ; he became thoughtful, and 
would arise at the first dawn of day, and sit looking 
at the bean-stalk for hours together. His mother saw 
that something preyed upon his mind, and endeavored 
to discover the cause ; but Jack knew too well what 
the consequence would be should she succeed. He did 
his utmost, therefore, to conquer the great desire he 
had for another journey up the bean-stalk. Finding, 
however, that his inclination grew too powerful for him, 
he began to make secret preparations for his journey. 
He got ready a new disguise, better and more com- 
plete than the former ; and when summer came, on 
the longest day he woke as soon as it was light, and, 
without telling his mother, ascended the bean-stalk. 
He found the road, journey, etc., much as.it was on 
the two former times. He arrived at the giant’s man- 
sion in the evening, and found the wife standing, as 
usual, at the door. Jack had disguised himself so 
completely that she did not appear to have the least 
recollection of him ; however, when he pleaded hunger 
and poverty in order to gain admittance, he found it 
very difficult indeed to persuade her. At last he pre- 


154 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


vailed, and was concealed in the copper. When the 
giant returned, he said furiously, I smell fresh meat ! ” 
But Jack felt quite composed, as he had said so be- 
fore and had been soon satisfied. However, the giant 
started up suddenly, and, notwithstanding all his wife 
could say, he searched all round the room. Whilst 
this was going forward. Jack was exceedingly terri- 
fied, wishing himself at home a thousajid times ; but 
when the giant approached the copper, and put his 
hand upon the lid. Jack thought his death was cer- 
tain. However, nothing happened ; for the giant did 
not take the trouble to lift up the lid, but sat down 
shortly by the fireside, and began to eat his enormous 
supper. When he had finished, he commanded his 
wife to fetch down his harp. Jack peeped under the 
copper lid, and saw a most beautiful harp. The giant 
placed it on the table, said “ Play ! ” and it played 
of its own accord, without anybody touching it, the 
most exquisite music imaginable. Jack, who was a 
very good musician, was delighted, and more anxious 
to get this than any other of his enemy’s treasures. 
But the giant not being particularly fond of music, the 
harp had only the effect of lulling him to sleep earlier 
than usual. As for the wife, she had gone to bed as 
soon as ever she could. 

As soon as he thought all was safe. Jack got out of 
the copper, and, seizing the harp, was eagerly running 
off with it. But the harp was enchanted by a fairy, and 
as soon as it found itself in strange hands, it called out 
loudly, just as if it had been alive, Master ! Master ! ” 

The giant awoke, started up, and saw Jack scamper- 
ing away as fast as his legs could carry him. 

Oh, you villain ! It is you who have robbed me of 
my hen and my money-bags, and now you are stealing 
my harp also. Wait till I catch you, and I T1 eat you 
up alive ! ” 


GRACIOSA AKD PERCINET. 


155 


Very well ; try ! ” shouted Jack, who was not a bit 
afraid, for he saw the giant was so tipsy he could 
hardly stand, much less run ; and he himself had young 
legs and a clear conscience, which carry a man a long 
way. So, after leading the giant a considerable race, 
he contrived to be first at the top of the bean-stalk, and 
then scrambled down it as fast as he could, the harp 
playing all the while the most melancholy music, till 
he said Stop,” and it stopped. 

Arrived at the bottom, he found his mother sitting 
at her cottage-door, weeping silently. 

Here, mother, don’t cry ; just give me a hatchet ; 
make haste.” For he knew there was not a moment 
to spare ; he saw the giant beginning to descend the 
bean-stalk. 

However, it was too late — the monster’s ill deeds 
had come to an end. Jack with his hatchet cut the 
bean-stalk close off at the root ; the giant fell headlong 
into the garden, and was killed on the spot. 

Instantly the fairy appeared and explained every- 
thing to Jack’s mother, begging her to forgive Jack, 
who was his father’s own son for bravery and gener- 
osity, and who would be sure to make her happy for 
the rest of her days. 

So all ended well, and nothing was ever more heard 
or seen of the wonderful bean-stalk. 


GHACIOSA AKD PEECINET. 

Once upon a time there lived a king and queen who 
had an only daughter. Her incomparable beauty, 
sweetness, and intelligence caused her to be named 
Graciosa. She was all her mother’s joy. Every day 
she had given her a different dress, of gold brocade, 


156 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


velvet, or satin ; yet she was neither conceited nor 
boastful. She used to pass her mornings in study, and 
in the afternoon she sat sewing by the queen’s side. 
She had, however, plenty of play-time and sweetmeats 
without end, so that she was altogether the happiest 
princess alive. 

At the same court was an elderly young lady named 
Duchess Grognon, who was the very opposite of Gra- 
ciosa. Her hair was fiery red, her face fat and spotty, 
and she had but one eye. Her mouth was so big that 
you might have thought she could eat you up, only she 
had no teeth to do it with ; she was also hump-backed 
and lame. Of course she could not help her ugliness, 
and nobody would have disliked her for that, if she had 
not been of such an unpleasant temper that she hated 
everything sweet and beautiful, and especially Graciosa. 
She had also a very good opinion of herself, and when 
any one praised the princess, would say angrily, That 
is a lie ! My little finger is worth her whole body.” 

In course of time the queen fell sick and died, and 
her daughter was almost broken-hearted. So was heV 
husband for a year, and then he began to comfort him- 
self by hunting. One day, after a long chase, he came 
to a strange castle, which happened to be that of the 
Duchess Grognon. She, informed of his approach, 
went out to meet him, and received him most respect- 
fully. As he was very hot with hunting, she took him 
into the coolest place in the palace, which was a vaulted 
cave, most elegantly furnished, where there were two 
hundred barrels arranged in long rows. 

Madam, are these all yours ? ” inquired the king. 

“ Yes, sire, but I shall be most happy if you will con- 
descend to taste their contents. Which wine do you 
prefer — canary, hermitage, champagne ? ” and she ran 
over a long list, out of which his majesty made his 
choice. 


GRACIOSA AND PERCINET. 


157 


Grognon took a little hammer and struck toe, toc,’^ 
on the cask, from which there rolled out a handful of 
silver money. “Nay, what is this?’’ said she, smil- 
ing, and passed on to the next, from which, when she 
tapped it, out poured a stream of gold coins. “ I never 
saw the like — what nonsense ! ” and she tried the 
third, out of which came a heap of pearls and dia- 
monds, so that the floor of the cave was strewn with 
them. Sire,” she exclaimed, some one has robbed 
me of my good wine, and put this rubbish in its 
place.” 

“ Rubbish, madam ! Why, such rubbish would buy 
my whole kingdom.” 

“ It is yours, sire,” replied the duchess, “ if you will 
make me your queen.” 

The king, who was a great lover of money, replied 
eagerly, Certainly, madam, I ’ll marry you to-morrow 
if you will.” 

Grognon, highly delighted, made but one other con- 
dition — that she should have the princess Graciosa 
entirely in her own rule and power, just as if she had 
been her real mother ; to which the foolish king con- 
sented, for he thought much more of riches than he 
did of his child. So he and Grognon departed hand 
in hand out of the cave, very well pleased. 

When the king returned home Graciosa ran out 
with joy to welcome her father, and asked him if he 
had had good sport in his hunting. 

Yes, my child,” said he, “for I have taken a dove 
alive.” 

“ Oh, give it me, and I will nourish and cherish 
it,” cried the princess. 

That is impossible ; for it is the Duchess Grognon, 
whom I liave promised to marry.” 

“ She a dove ! She is rather a hawk,” sighed the 
princess in despair ; but her father bade her hold her 


158 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


tongue, and promise to love her stepmother, who 
would have over her all the authority of a mother, 
and to whom he wished to present her that very day. 

The obedient princess went to her apartment, where 
her nurse soon found out the sorrow in her face, and 
its cause. 

My child,’’ said the good old woman, “ princesses 
ought to show a good example to humbler women. 
Promise me to do your best to please your father, and 
to make yourself agreeable to the stepmother he has 
chosen for you. She may not be so bad, after all.” 

And the nurse gave so much good advice that 
Graciosa began to smile, and dressed herself in her 
best attire, a green robe embroidered with gold ; while 
her fair, loose-falling hair was adorned, according to 
the fashion of the day, with a coronet of jasmine, of 
which the leaves were made of large emeralds. 

Grognon, on her part, made the best of herself that 
was possible. She put on a high-heeled shoe to 
appear less lame, she padded her shoulders, dyed her 
red hair black, and put in a false eye ; then dressed 
herself in a hooped petticoat of violet satin trimmed 
with blue, and an upper gown of yellow with green 
ribbons. In this costume she wished to enter the 
city on horseback, as she understood the queens were 
in the habit of doing. 

Meantime, Graciosa waited in fear the moment of 
her arrival, and, to pass the time away, she went all 
alone into a little wood, where she sobbed and wept 
in secret, until suddenly there appeared before her a 
young page, whom she had never seen before. 

Who are you ? ” she inquired ; “ and when did his 
majesty take you into his service ? ” 

Princess,” said the page, bowing, “ I am in no 
one’s service but your own. I am Percinet, a prince 
in my own country, so that there is no inequality of 


GRACIOSA AND PERCINET. 


159 


rank between us. I have loved you long, and seen 
you often, for I have the fairy gift of making myself 
invisible. I might longer have concealed myself from 
you, but for your present sorrow, in which, however, 
I hope to be of both comfort and assistance — a page 
and yet a prince, and your faithful lover.’’ 

At these words, at once tender and respectful, the 
princess, who had long heard of the fairy prince 
Percinet, felt so happy that she feared Grognon no 
more. T'hey talked a little while together, and then 
returned to the palace, where the page assisted her to 
mount her horse; on which she looked so beautiful 
that all the new queen’s splendors faded into nothing 
in comparison, and not one of the courtiers had eyes 
for any except Graciosa. 

As soon as Grognon saw it, What ! ” cried she, 

has this creature the impudence to be better 
mounted than myself ! Descend, Miss, and let me 
try your horse ; and your page, whom everybody 
thinks so much of, bid him come and hold my bridle.” 

Prince Percinet, who was the page, cast one look at 
his fair Graciosa and obeyed ; but no sooner had the 
duchess mounted than the horse ran away with her 
and dragged her over briers, stones, and mud, and 
finally threw her into a deep ditch. Her head was 
cut in several places, and her arm fractured. They 
picked her up in little pieces, like a broken wineglass ; 
never was there a poor bride in worse plight. But in 
spite of her sufferings her malice remained. She sent 
for the king : 

This is all Graciosa’s fault ; she wished to kill 
me. I desire that your majesty will punish her, or 
leave me to do it — else I will certainly be revenged 
upon you both.” 

The king, afraid of losing his casks full of gold 
pieces, consented, and Graciosa was commanded to 


160 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


appear. She came trembling and looking round 
vainly for Prince Percinet. The cruel Grognon 
ordered four women, ugly as witches, to take her and 
strip off her fine clothes, and whip her with rods till 
her white shoulders were red with blood. But lo ! as 
soon as the rods touched her they turned into bundles 
of feathers, and the women tired themselves to death 
with whipping, without hurting Graciosa the least in 
the world ! 

Ah ! kind Percinet, what do I not owe you ? 
What should I do without you ! ’’ sighed the princess, 
when she was taken back to her own chamber and 
her 'nurse. And then she saw the prince standing 
before her, in his green dress and his white plume, 
the most charming of pages. 

Percinet advised her to pretend illness on account 
of the cruel treatment she was supposed to have 
received; which so delighted Grognon that she got 
well all the sooner, and the marriage was celebrated 
with great splendor. 

Soon after, the king, who knew that his wife’s weak 
point was her vanity, gave a tournament, at which he 
ordered the six bravest knights of the court to pro- 
claim that Queen Grognon was the fairest lady alive. 
No knight ventured to dispute this fact, until there 
appeared one who carried a little box adorned with 
diamonds, and proclaimed aloud that Grognon was 
the ugliest woman in the universe, and that the most 
beautiful was she whose portrait was in the box. He 
opened it, and behold the image of the Princess Gra- 
ciosa ! 

The princess, who sat behind her stepmother, felt 
sure that the unknown knight was Percinet ; but she 
dared say nothing. The contest was fixed for next 
day ; but in the meantime Grognon, wild with anger, 
commanded Graciosa to be taken in the middle of the 



GRACIOSA AND PERCINET. 


161 


night to a forest a hundred leagues distant, full of 
wolves, lions, tigers, and bears. In vain the poor 
maiden implored that the attendants would kill her 
at once, rather than leave her in that dreadful place : 
the queen’s orders must be obeyed ; no answer was 
made to her, but the servants remounted and rode 
away. Graciosa, in solitude and darkness, groped 
through the forest, sometimes falling against the 
trunks of trees, sometimes tearing herself wdth bushes 
and briers ; at last, overcome with fear and grief, she 
sank on the ground, sobbing out, “ Percinet, Percinet, 
have you forsaken me ? ” 

While she spoke a bright light dazzled her eyes, 
the midnight forest was changed into glittering alleys, 
at the end of which appeared a palace of crystal, 
shining like the sun. She knew it was the doing of 
the fairy prince who loved her, and felt a joy mingled 
with fear. She turned to fly, but saw him standing 
before her, more handsome and charming than ever. 

Princess,” said he, why are you afraid of me ? 
This is the palace of the fairy queen my mother, and 
the princesses my sisters, who will take care of you 
and love you tenderly. Enter this chariot, and I will 
convey you there.” 

Graciosa entered, and passing through many a 
lovely forest glade, where it was clear daylight, and 
shepherds and shepherdesses were dancing to merry 
music, they reached the palace, where the queen and 
her two daughters received the forlorn princess with 
great kindness, and led her through many rooms of 
rock-crystal, glittering with jewels, where, to her 
amazement, Graciosa saw the history of her own life, 
even down to this adventure in the forest, painted on 
the walls. 

^‘How is this?” she said. Prince, you know 
everything about me,” 


162 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Yes; and I wish to preserve everything concern- 
ing you,” said he tenderly ; whereupon Graciosa cast 
down her eyes. She was only too happy, and afraid 
that she should learn to love the fairy prince too 
much. 

She spent eight days in his palace — days full of 
every enjoyment ; and Percinet tried all the arguments 
he could think of to induce her to marry him and 
remain there forever. But the good and gentle Graci- 
osa remembered her father, who was once so kind to 
her, and she preferred rather to suffer than to be 
wanting in duty. She entreated Percinet to use his 
fairy power to send her home again, and meantime to 
tell her what had become of her father. 

Come with me into the great tower there, and you 
shall see for yourself.” 

Thereupon he took her to the top of a tower, pro- 
digiously high, put her little finger to his lips, and 
her foot upon his foot. Then he bade her look, and 
she saw as in a picture, or as in a j^lay upon the stage, 
the King and Grognon sitting together on their throne. 
The latter was telling how Graciosa had hanged herself 
in a cave. 

She will not be much loss, sire ; and as, when dead, 
she was far too frightful for you to look at, I have 
given orders to bury her at once.” 

She might well say that, for she had had a large 
faggot put into a coffin, and sealed up ; the king and 
all the nation mourned over it ; and, now that she was 
no more, they declared there never was such a sweet 
creature as the lost princess. 

The sight of her father’s grief quite overcame Graci- 
osa. Oh, Percinet ! ” she cried, my father believes 
me dead. If you love me, take me home.” 

The prince consented, though very sorrowfully, 
saying that she was as cruel to him as Grognon was 


GRACIOSA AND PERCINET. 


103 


to her, and mounted with her in his chariot drawn by 
four white stags. As they quitted the courtyard they 
heard a great noise, and Graciosa saw the palace all 
falling to pieces with a great crash. 

What is this ? she cried, terrified. 

Princess, my palace, which you forsake, is among 
the things which are dead and gone. You will enter 
it no more till after your burial.’’ 

“ Prince, you are angry with me,” said Graciosa sor- 
rowfully ; only she knew well that she suffered quite 
as much as he did in thus departing and quitting him. 

Arrived in her father’s presence, she had great diffi- 
culty in persuading him that she was not a ghost, until 
the coffin with the faggot inside was taken up, and 
Grognon’s malice discovered. But even then the king 
was so weak a man that the queen soon made him 
believe he had been cheated, that the princess was 
really dead, and that this was a false Graciosa. With- 
out more ado he abandoned his daughter to her 
stepmother’s will. 

Grognon, transported with joy, dragged her to a 
dark prison, took away her clothes, made her dress in 
rags, feed on bread and water, and sleep upon straw. 
Forlorn and hopeless, Graciosa dared not now call upon 
Percinet ; she doubted if he still loved her enough to 
come to her aid. 

Meantime, Grognon had sent for a fairy, who was 
scarcely less malicious than herself. I have here,” 
said she, a little wretch of a girl for whom I wish to 
find all sorts of difficult tasks ; pray assist me in giving 
her a new one every day.” 

The fairy promised to think of it, and soon brought 
a skein as thick as four persons, yet composed of thread 
so fine that it broke if you only blew upon it, and 
so tangled that it had neither beginning nor end. 
Grognon, delighted, sent for her poor prisoner. 


164 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


There, Miss, teach your clumsy fingers to unwind 
this skein, and if you break a single thread I will flay 
you alive. Begin when you like, but you must finish 
at sunset, or it will be the worse for you.’’ Then she 
sent her to her miserable cell, and treble-locked the 
door. 

Graciosa stood dismayed, turning the skein over 
and over, and breaking hundreds of threads each time. 

Ah ! Percinet,” she cried in despair, come and help 
me, or at least receive my last farewell.” 

Immediately Percinet stood beside her, having en- 
tered the cell as easily as if he carried the key in his 
pocket. “ Behold me, princess, ready to serve you, 
even though you forsook me.” He touched the skein 
with his wand, and it untangled itself, and wound it- 
self up in perfect order. ‘^Do you wish anything 
more, madam ? ” asked he coldly. 

• Percinet, Percinet, do not reproach me ; I am only 
too unhappy ! ” 

It is your own fault. Come with me, and make us 
both happy.” But she said nothing, and the fairy 
prince disappeared. 

At sunset Grognon eagerly came to the prison-door 
with her three keys, and found Graciosa smiling and 
fair, her task all done. There was no complaint to 
make, yet Grognon exclaimed that the skein was 
dirty, and boxed the princess’s ears till her rosy 
cheeks turned yellow and blue. Then she left her, 
and overwhelmed the fairy with reproaches. 

Find me, by to-morrow, something absolutely im- 
possible for her to do.” 

The fairy brought a great basket full of feathers, 
plucked from every kind of bird — nightingales, cana- 
ries, linnets, larks, doves, thrushes, peacocks, ostriches, 
pheasants, partridges, magpies, eagles ; in fact, if I 
told them all over I should never come to an end j and 


GRACIOSA AND PERCINET. 165 

all these feathers were so mixed up together that they 
could not be distinguished. 

“ See/’ said the fairy, even one of ourselves would 
find it difficult to separate these, and arrange them as 
belonging to each sort of bird. Command your prisoner 
to do it ; she is sure to fail.” 

Grognon jumped for joy, sent for the princess, and 
ordered her to take her task, and finish it, as before, 
by set of sun. 

Graciosa tried patiently, but she could see no differ- 
ence in the feathers ; she threw them all back again 
into the basket, and began to weep bitterly. Let me 
die,” said she, ^^for death only will end my sorrows. 
Percinet loves me no longer; if he did, he would 
already have been here.” 

Here I am, my princess,” cried a voice from 
under the basket; and the fairy prince appeared. 
He gave three taps with his wand — the feathers 
flew by millions out of the basket, and arranged 
themselves in little heaps, each belonging to a dif- 
erent bird. 

‘‘ What do I not owe you ? ” cried Graciosa. 

Love me ! ” answered the prince tenderly, and said 
no more. 

When Grognon arrived she found the task done. 
She was furious at the fairy, who was as much aston- 
ished as herself at the result of their malicious contri- 
vances. But she promised to try once more ; and for 
several days employed all her industry in inventing a 
box, which, she said, the prisoner must be forbidden 
on any account to open. Then,” added the cunning 
fairy, of course, being such a disobedient and wicked 
girl as you say, she will open it, and the result will 
satisfy you to your heart’s content.” 

Grognon took the box and commanded Graciosa to 
carry it to her castle and set it on a certain table, in 


166 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


an apartment she named, but not, upon any account, 
to open it or examine the contents. 

Graciosa departed. She was dressed like any poor 
peasant, in a cotton gown, a woollen hood, and wooden 
shoes ; yet, as she walked along, people took her for a 
queen in disguise, so lovely were her looks and ways. 
But being weak with imprisonment, she soon grew 
weary, and, sitting down upon the edge of a little wood, 
took the box upon her lap. Suddenly a wonderful 
desire seized her to open it. 

“ I will take nothing out, I will touch nothing,’’ said 
she to herself, but I must see what is inside.” 

Without reflecting on the consequences, she lifted up 
the lid, and instantly there jumped out a number of 
little men and little women, carrying little tables and 
chairs, little dishes and little musical instruments. 
The whole company were so small that the biggest 
giant among them was scarcely the height of a finger. 
They leaped into the green meadow, separated into 
various bands, and began dancing and singing, eating 
and drinking, to Graciosa’s wonder and delight. But 
when she recollected herself, and wished to get them 
into the box again, they all scampered away, played at 
hide-and-seek in the wood, and by no means could she 
catch a single one. 

Again, in her distress, she called upon Percinet, and 
again he appeared^ and, with a single touch of his 
wand, sent all the little people back into the box. Then, 
in his chariot drawn by stags, he took her to the castle, 
where she did all that she had been commanded, and 
returned in safety to her stepmother, who was more 
furious than ever. If a fairy could be strangled, 
Grognon certainly would have done it in her rage. 
At last she resolved to ask help no more, but to work 
her own wicked will upon Graciosa. 

She caused to be dug a large hole in the garden, and, 


GRACrOSA AND PERCINET. 167 

taking the princess there, showed her the stone which 
covered it. 

Underneath this stone lies a great treasure ; lift it 
up, and you will see.” 

Graciosa obeyed ; and while she was standing at 
the edge of the pit, Grognon pushed her iu, and let 
the stone fall down again upon her, burying her 
alive. After this there seemed no more hope for the 
poor princess. 

‘^Oh, Percinet,” cried she, ^^you are avenged. 
Why did I not return your lovfe, and marry you! 
Still, death will be less bitter, if only you regret me 
a little.” 

While she spoke she saw through the blank dai-k- 
ness a glimmer of light ; it came through a little door. 
She remembered what Percinet had said : that she 
would never return to the fairy palace until after she 
was buried. Perhaps this final cruelt}'- of Grognon 
would be the end of her sorrows. So she took 
courage, crept through the little door, and lo! she 
came out into a beautiful garden, with long alleys, 
fruit-trees, and flower-beds. Well she knew it, and 
well she knew the glitter of the rock-crystal walls. 
And there, at the palace gate, stood Percinet, and the 
queen his mother and the princesses his sisters. 

Welcome, Graciosa ! ” cried they all ; and Graciosa, 
after all her sufferings, wept for joy. 

The marriage was celebrated with great splendor ; 
and all the fairies, for a thousand leagues round, 
attended it. Some came in chariots drawn by 
dragons, or swans, or peacocks ; some were mounted 
upon floating clouds or globes of fire. Among the 
rest appeared the very fairy who had assisted Grog- 
non to torment Graciosa. When she discovered that 
Grognon’s poor prisoner was now Prince Percinet’s 
bride, she was overwhelmed with confusion, and 


168 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


entreated her to forget all that had passed, because 
she really was ignorant whom she had been so cruelly 
afflicting. 

“ But I will make amends for all the evil that I 
have done,’’ said the fairy ; and, refusing to stay for 
the wedding dinner, she remounted her chariot, drawn 
by two terrible serpents, and flew to the palace of 
Graciosa’s father. There, before either king, or 
courtiers, or ladies-in-waiting could stop her, — even 
had they wished to do it, which remains doubtful, — 
she came behind th’ft wicked Grognon, and twisted her 
neck, just as a cook does a barn-door fowl. So Grog- 
non died and was buried, and nobody was particularly 
sorry for the same. 


THE IKON STOVE. 

In the days when magic was still of some avail, a 
king’s son was enchanted by an old witch, and com- 
pelled to spend his life sitting inside a great Iron 
Stove in a wood. There he passed many years, and 
nobody could release him. 

Once a king’s daughter came into the wood. She 
had gone astray, and could not find her father’s king- 
dom again ; and having wandered about for nine days, 
at last she stood before the Iron Stove. Then a voice 
came out of it, and said, Whence do you come, and 
where do you want to go ? ” 

She answered, I have wandered from my father’s 
kingdom and lost myself, and cannot get home again.” 

Then the voice spoke out of the Iron Stove : ‘‘ I 
will help you home again, and that, too, in a short 
time, if you will promise to do what I desire. I am 
a greater prince than you are a princess, and I wish 
to marry you.” 


THE IRON STOVE. 


169 


She was very much frightened, and thought, “ Oh, 
what shall I do ! How can T marry an Iron Stove ? ” 

However, as she wanted very much to go home to 
her father, she promised what was demanded of her. 

Very well,” said the voice; you must come again, 
and bring a knife with you, and scrape a hole in the 
iron.’* 

And the Iron Stove gave her for a companion some- 
thing or somebody — she was not quite sure what — 
who walked by her side and did not speak, but took 
her safe home within two hours. Then there was 
great joy in her father’s palace, and the old king fell 
on her neck, and kissed her many times. But she 
was very sorrowful, and said : Dear father, you little 
know what has happened to me ; I should never have 
come home again out of the great wild wood if I had 
not passed by an Iron Stove. But I had to promise 
faithfully that I would return back to it, and marry 
it.” 

The old king was so terrified that he nearly fell 
into a swoon ; for he had only this one child. They 
therefore consulted together, and decided to send, not 
the princess, but a miller’s daughter, who was very 
beautiful ; and leading her out, they gave her a knife, 
and told her how she was to scrape the Iron Stove. 
When she reached the wood, she scraped away for 
four-and-twenty hours, but could not make the slight- 
est impression. But when day began to break, a 
voice in the Iron Stove called out, “ It seems to me 
that it is day out there.” 

She answered: ^^It seems so to me too; I think I 
hear my father’s mill turning.” 

Oh, then you are a miller’s daughter ; go straight 
back and send the king’s daughter here ! ” 

Then she returned and told the old king that the 
Iron Stove would not have her ; he wanted the prin- 


170 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


cess only. The old king was greatly frightened, and 
the princess wept. But they had still a swineherd’s 
daughter, who was still more beautiful than the mil- 
ler’s girl ; so they gave her a piece of gold, in order 
that she might be persuaded to go, instead of the 
king’s daughter, to the Iron Stove. ’She was taken 
to the wood as before, and had also to scrape for four- 
and-twenty hours ; but she could make no impression. 

Now when dawn broke, a voice called out of the 
Stove, “ It seems to me it is day out there.” 

Then she answered, It seems so to me too ; I think 
I hear my father’s little horn sounding.” 

So you are the swineherd’s daughter ; go away 
directly, and bid the king’s daughter come, and tell 
her it shall happen to her as I forewarned her : if she 
does not come, everything in the kingdom shall fall 
to pieces and tumble down, and no stone remain 
upon another.” 

When the king’s daughter heard this, she began to 
cry ; but there was nothing else to be done — she must 
keep her promise. She took leave of her father, put a 
knife in her pocket, and went out to the Iron Stove in 
the wood. When she arrived there, she began to 
scrape and scrape ; the iron yielded, and in two hours 
she had already sgraped a little hole. She looked in 
and saw a most beautiful youth. Oh ! he shone so with 
gold and precious stones that he pleased her to the 
very bottom of her heart. She scraped away faster 
than ever, till she made the hole so large that he was 
able to get out. 

Then he said, “ You are mine, and I am yours ; you 
have freed me, and you are my bride.” 

He wished to take her home to his kingdom, but she 
begged that she might go once more to see her father ; 
and the prince gave her leave, on condition that she 
should speak no more than three words with him, and 


THE IRON STOVE. 


171 


come back again. So she went home ; but, alas ! being 
a little chatterbox, she spoke more than three words. 
The Iron Stove disappeared instantly, and was re- 
moved far away, over glass mountains and sharp 
swords ; but the king’s son, being now freed, was not 
shut up in it. 

The princess took leave of her father, and took some 
money with her, but not much, and went again into 
the great wood. There she looked everywhere for the 
Iron Stove, but it was not to be found. 

She sought it for nine days, until her hunger was so 
great that she did not know what to do ; for she had 
eaten all the food she could find, and had nothing left 
to keep her alive. At evening-tide she climbed up into 
a little tree, and purposed spending the night there, 
for fear of the wild beasts. But when midnight came 
she saw afar off a little glimmering light, and think- 
ing, Oh ! there I should be safe,” cl jjnbed down and 
went towards it. 

Then she came to a little old house, overgrown with 
grass, with a little heap of wood before the door. 
Wondering how it came there, she looked in through 
the window, and saw nothing inside but a number of 
fat little frogs, and a table beautifully spread. There 
were on it roast meats and wines, and the plates and 
cups were all of silver. So she took heart, and knocked. 
Immediately the fattest frog called out — 

Maiden sweet and small, 

Hutzelbein I call ; 

Hutzelbein’s little dog, 

Creep about and see 
Who this can be.” 

Then a little frog came and opened the door for her ; 
and as soon as she came in, the frogs all bade her 
welcome, and persuaded her to sit down. They asked, 


172 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


“ Whence do you come ? Where do you want to 
go?’’ 

Then she told them all that had happened to her, 
and how, because she had disobeyed the command not 
to speak to her father more than three words, the Stove 
had disappeared, as well as the king’s son. Now she 
was determined to seek him and to wander over moun- 
tain and valley till she found him. 

The old fat frog said — 

Maiden sweet and small, 

Hutzelbein I call ; 

Hutzelbein’s little dog, 

Creep about and see ; 

Bring the great box to me.” 

Then the little frog went and brought the box. 
Afterwards they gave the princess food and drink, and 
took her to a l^eautifully-made bed, all of silk and 
velvet; she laid herself in it, and slept peacefully. 

When the day came she arose, and the old frog gave 
her three needles out of the great box, and told her to 
take them with her. They would be very necessary 
to her, for she would have to go over a high glass 
mountain, and three sharp swords, and a great sea ; if 
she passed all those, she would recover her dearest 
prince. The frog also gave her, besides the three 
needles, other gifts, which she was to take great care 
of ; namely, a plough-wheel and three nuts. 

With these she set off, and when she came to the 
slippery glass mountain, she stuck the three needles 
into it as she walked, — some before her feet and some 
behind, — and so managed to get across. When she 
was on the other side, she hid the needles in a place 
which she had noticed particularly, and went on her 
way. Afterwards she came to the sharp-cutting 
swords, but she set herself on her plough-wheel and 


THE IRON STOVE. 


173 


rolled safely over them. At last she came before a 
great lake, which she had to sail across, and when she 
had done so she saw a great castle. She went in and 
said she was a poor maiden, who wished very much to 
hire herself out, if she might be taken in there as a 
servant. For the frogs had told her that the king’s 
son, whom she had released out of the Iron Stove in 
the great wood, dwelt there ; so she was content to be 
taken as kitchen-maid, for very small pay. 

Now the king’s son had thought the princess was 
dead ; and there was now with him another maiden, 
whom he had been persuaded he ought to marry, 
which grieved the poor kitchen-maid very much. 

In the evening when she had washed up the dishes, 
and had done all her work, she felt in her pocket, and 
found the three nuts which the old frog had given her. 
She bit one open, and was going to eat the kernel, 
when, behold, inside it was the most beautiful dress 
imaginable — so beautiful that the bride soon heard 
of it, came and asked to see it, and wanted to buy it, 
saying it was no dress for a kitchen-maid. But the' 
kitchen-maid thought differently, and refused to sell 
it, but offered to give it as a present, if the bride 
would grant her one favor; namely, to sleep one 
night on the mat outside the bridegroom’s door. The 
bride gave her leave, because the dress was so beauti- 
ful, and she had none like it. 

Now when it was evening she said to the bridegroom : 

The foolish kitchen-maid wants to sleep on the mat 
outside your door.” 

If you are content I am,” said he. 

But the bride gave him a glass of wine, in which 
she had put a sleeping-draught ; so that he slept so 
soundly, nothing could wake him. While, outside 
the door, the princess wept the whole night, saying : 

I have released you out of the wild wood — out of 


174 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


an Iron Stove; in seeking you I have gone over a 
glass mountain, over three sharp swords, and over a 
great lake ; yet, now that I find you, you will not hear 
me.” 

Next evening, when she had washed up everything, 
she bit the second nut open ; and inside it was a far 
more beautiful dress than the first, which, when the 
bride saw, she wished to buy also. But the girl again 
refused to take money, and again begged that she might 
spend the night outside the bridegroom’s door. Once 
more the bride gave him a sleeping-draught, and he 
slept so soundly that he could hear nothing. But the 
kitchen-maid wept the whole night long, crying : I 
have released you out of a wild wood, and out of an 
Iron Stove ; and have gone over a glass mountain, 
over three sharp swords, and over a great lake, before 
I found you ; and yet, when I find you, you will not 
hear me.” 

The third evening she bit open the third nut ; and 
there was in it a still more beautiful dress, which shone 
stiff with pure gold. When the bride saw it, she 
wished more earnestly than ever to have it ; but the 
kitchen-maid would only give it to her on condition that 
she might sleep, for the third time, on the mat at the 
bridegroom’s door. But this time the prince was cau- 
tious, and left the sleeping-draught untouched. Now, 
when she began to weep, and call out : Dearest treas- 
ure, I have released you out of the horrible wild 
wood, and out of an Iron Stove,” the king’s son sprang 
up, crying out : “ This is my right true love — she is 
mine, and I am hers.” Then he declared he would 
not marry the other bride, whom he did not love ; and 
so, still in the middle of the night, he got into a car- 
riage with the kitchen-maid, and drove away. 

When they came to the great lake, they sailed 
over ; and at the three sharp swords, they seated 


THE INVISIBLE PRINCE. 


175 


themselves on the plough-wheel ; and at the glass 
mountain, they found the three needles, and stuck 
them in step by step. So they came at last to the 
little old house ; but, as they went in, lo ! it changed 
to a great castle ; the frogs turned to princes and 
princesses, all kings’ children, and received them both 
with great joy. There the wedding was celebrated, 
and they remained in the castle, which was much 
larger than that which belonged to the princess’s 
father. But as the old man lamented very much his 
daughter’s loss and his own loneliness, they soon went 
and fetched him home to themselves. So they had 
two kingdoms, instead of one, and lived happily 
together all their days. 


THE INVISIBLE PRINCE. 

There was a king and queen who were dotingly 
fond of their only son, notwithstanding that he was 
equally deformed in mind and person. The king was 
quite sensible of the evil disposition of his son, but the 
queen, in her excessive fondness, saw no fault what- 
ever in her dear Furibon, as he was named. The surest 
way to win her favor was to praise Furibon for charms 
he did not possess. When he came of age to have a 
governor, the king made choice of a prince who had 
an ancient right to the crown, but was not able to 
support it. This prince had a son, named Leander, 
handsome, accomplished, amiable, — in every respect 
the opposite of Prince Furibon. The two were fre- 
quently together, which only made the deformed prince 
more repulsive. 

One day, certain ambassadors having arrived from 
a far country, the princes stood in a gallery to see 


176 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


them ; when, taking Leander for the king’s son, they 
made their obeisance to him, treating Furibon as a 
mere dwarf, at which the latter was so offended that 
he drew his sword, and would have done them a mis- 
chief had not the king just then appeared. As it was, 
the affair produced a quarrel, which ended in Lean- 
der’s being sent to a far-away castle belonging to his 
father. 

There, however, he was quite happy, for he was a 
great lover of hunting, fishing, and walking ; he un- 
derstood painting, read much, and played upon several 
instruments ; so that he was glad to be freed from the 
fantastic humors of Furibon. One day as he was 
walking in the garden, finding the heat increase, he 
retired into a shady grove, and began to play upon the 
flute to amuse himself. As he played, he felt some- 
thing wind about his leg, and looking down saw a 
great adder ; he took his handkerchief, and, catching 
it by the head, was going to kill it. But the adder, 
looking steadfastly in his face, seemed to beg his par- 
don. At this instant one of the gardeners happened 
to come to the place where Leander was, and, spying 
the snake, cried out to his master, Hold him fast, 
sir ; it is but an hour since we ran after him to kill 
him ; it is the most mischievous creature in the world.” 

Leander, casting his eyes a second time upon the 
snake, which was speckled with a thousand extraor- 
dinary colors, perceived the poor creature still looked 
upon him with an aspect that seemed to implore com- 
passion, and never tried in the least to defend itself. 

Though thou hast such a mind to kill it,” said he 
to the gardener, yet, as it came to me for refuge, I 
forbid thee to do it any harm ; for I will keep it, and 
when it has cast its beautiful skin I will let it go.” 
He then returned home, and carrying the snake with 
him, put it into a large chamber, the key of which he 


THE INVISIBLE PRINCE 


17T 


kept himself, and ordered bran, milk, and flowers to 
be given to it, for its delight and sustenance ; so that 
never was snake so happy. Leander went sometimes 
to see it, and when it perceived him it made haste to 
meet him, showing him all the little marks of love 
and gratitude of which a poor snake was capable, 
which did not a little surprise him, though, however, 
he took no further notice of it. 

In the meantime all the court ladies were extremely 
troubled at his absence, and he was the subject of all 
their discourse. Alas ! ” cried they, there is no 
pleasure at court since Leander is gone, of whose 
absence the wicked Furibon is the cause ! ” Furibon 
also had his parasites, for his power over the queen 
made him feared ; they told him what the ladies said, 
which enraged him to such a degree that in his passion 
he flew to the queen’s chamber, and vowed he Avould 
kill himself before her face if she did not find means 
to destroy Leander. The queen, who also hated Lean- 
der, because he was handsomer than her son, replied 
that she had long looked upon him as a traitor, and 
therefore would willingly consent to his death. To 
which purpose she advised Furibon to go a-hunting 
with some of his confidants, and contrive it so that 
Leander should make one of the party. 

‘‘ Then,” said she, ‘‘ you may find some way to 
punish him for pleasing everybody.” 

Furibon understood her, and accordingly went 
a-hunting ; and Leander, when he heard the horns 
and the hounds, mounted his horse, and rode to see 
who it was. But he was surprised to meet the prince 
so unexpectedly ; he alighted immediately, and saluted 
him with respect ; and Furibon received him more 
graciously than usual, and bade him follow him. All 
of a sudden he turned his horse, and rode another 
way, making a sign to the ruffians to take the first 


178 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


opportunity to kill him ; but before he had got quite 
out of sight, a lion of prodigious size, coming out of 
his den, leaped upon Furibon ; all his followers lied, 
and only Leander remained ; who, attacking the 
animal, sword in hand, by his valor and agility saved 
the life of his most cruel enemy, who had fallen in a 
swoon from fear. When he recovered, Leander pre- 
sented him his horse to remount. Now, any other 
than such a wretch would have been grateful ; but 
Furibon did not even look upon him ; nay, mounting 
the horse, he rode in quest of the ruffians, to whom 
he repeated his orders to kill him. They accordingly 
surrounded Leander, who, setting his back to a tree, 
behaved with so much bravery that he laid them all 
dead at his feet. Furibon, believing him by this time 
slain, rode eagerly up to the spot. When Leander 
saw him he advanced to meet him. Sir,” said he, 
if it was by your order that these assassins came to 
kill me, I am sorry I made any defence.” 

“ You are an insolent villain ! ” replied Furibon, 
“ and if ever you come into my presence again, you 
shall surely die.” 

Leander made no answer, but retired sad and pen- 
sive to his own home, where he spent the night in 
pondering what was best for him to do ; for there was 
no likelihood he should be able to defend himself 
against the power of the king’s son ; therefore he at 
length concluded he would travel abroad and see the 
world. Being ready to depart, he recollected his snake, 
and calling for some milk and fruits carried them to 
the poor creature, for the last time ; but on opening 
the door he perceived an extraordinary lustre in one 
corner of the room, and casting his eye on the place 
he was surprised to see a lady, whose noble and 
majestic air made him immediately conclude she was 
a princess of royal birth. Her habit was of purple 


THE INVrSTBLE PRINCE. 


179 


satin, embroidered with pearls and diamonds; and 
advancing towards him with a gracious smile — 

Young prince,’’ said she, you find no longer your 
pet snake, but me, the Fairy Gentilla, ready to requite 
your generosity. For know that we fairies live a 
hundred years in flourishing youth, without diseases, 
without trouble or pain ; and this term being expired, 
we become snakes for eight days. During that time 
it is not in our power to prevent any misfortune that 
may befall us ; and if we happen to be killed, we 
never revive again. But these eight days being 
expired, we resume our usual form, and recover our 
beauty, our power, and our riches. Now, you know 
how much I am obliged to your goodness, and it is but 
just that I should repay my debt of gratitude. Think 
how I can serve you, and depend on me.” 

The young prince, who had never conversed with a 
fairy till now, was so surprised that it was a long 
time before he could speak. But at length, making a 
profound reverence, Madame,” said he, since I 
have had the honor to serve you, I know not any other 
happiness that I can wish for.” 

I should be sorry,” replied she, not to be of ser- 
vice to you in something ; consider it is in my power 
to bestow on you long life, kingdoms, riches ; to give 
you mines of diamonds, and houses full of gold ; I can 
make you an excellent orator, poet, musician, and 
painter ; or, if you desire it, a spirit of the air, the 
water, or the earth.” 

Here Leander interrupted her : Permit me, 

madame,” said he, to ask you what benefit it would 
be to me to be a spirit ? ” 

Much,” replied the fairy; you would be invisible 
when you pleased, and might in an instant traverse 
the whole earth ; you would be able to fly without 
wings, to descend into the abyss of the earth without 


180 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


dying, and walk at the bottom of the sea without 
being drowned ; nor doors, nor windows, though fast 
shut and locked, could hinder you from entering any- 
where ; and whenever you had a mind, you might 
resume your natural form.’’ 

Oh, madame ! ” cried Leander, then let me be a 
spirit; I am going to travel, and should prefer it 
above all those other advantages you have so gener- 
ously offered me.” 

Gentilla thereupon stroking his face three times, 

Be a spirit, ” said she ; and then, embracing him, 
she gave him a little red cap with a plume of feathers. 

When you put on this cap, you shall be invisible ; 
but when you take it off, you shall again become visi- 
ble.” 

Leander, overjoyed, put his little red cap upon his 
head, and wished himself in the forest, that he might 
gather some wild roses which he had observed there ; 
his body immediately became as light as thought ; he 
flew through .the window like a bird ; though in fly- 
ing over the river, he was not without fear, lest he 
should fall into it, and the power of the fairy not be 
able to save him. But he arrived in safety at the 
rosebushes, plucked three roses, and returned immedi- 
ately to his chamber, presented his roses to the fairy, 
overjoyed that his first experiment had succeeded so 
well. She bade him keep the roses, for that one of 
them would supply him with money whenever he 
wanted it ; that if he put the other into his mistress’s 
bosom, he would know whether she was faithful or 
not ; and that the third would keep him always in 
good health. Then, without staying to receive his 
thanks, she wished him success in his travels, and dis- 
appeared. 

Leander, infinitely pleased, settled his affairs, 
mounted the finest horse in the stable, called. Gris-de- 


THE INVISIBLE PKINCE. 


181 


line, and, attended by some of his servants in livery, 
made his return to court. Now, you must know Furi- 
bon had given out that had it not been for his courage 
Leander would have murdered him when they were 
a-hunting ; so the king, being importuned by the 
queen, gave orders that Leander should be appre- 
hended. But when he came, he showed so much 
courage and resolution that Furibon ran to the queen’s 
chamber, and prayed her to order him to be seized. 
The queen, who was extremely diligent in everything 
that her son desired, went immediately to the king. 
Furibon, being impatient to know what would be 
resolved, followed her ; but stopped at the door, and 
laid his ear to the keyhole, putting his hair aside that 
he might the better hear what was said. At the same 
time Leander entered the court-hall of the palace 
with his red cap upon his head, and perceiving Furi- 
boii listening at the door of the king’s chamber, he 
took a nail and a hammer, and nailed his ear to the 
door. Furibon began to roar, so that the queen, hear- 
ing her son’s voice, ran and opened the door, and, 
pulling it hastily, tore her son’s ear from his head. 
Half out of her wits, she set him in her lap, took up 
his ear, kissed it, and clapped it again upon its place ; 
but the invisible Leander, seizing upon a handful of 
twigs, with which they corrected the king’s little dogs, 
gave the queen several lashes upon her hands, and 
her son as many on the nose ; upon which the queen 
cried out, Murder ! murder ! ” and the king looked 
about, and the people came running in ; but nothing 
was to be seen. Some cried that the queen was mad, 
and that her madness proceeded from her grief to see 
that her son had lost one ear ; and the king was as 
ready as any to believe it, so that when she came near 
him he avoided her, which made a very ridiculous 
scene. Leander, then leaving the chamber, went into 


182 


THE FAIKY BOOK. 


the garden, and there, assuming his own shape, he 
boldly began to pluck the queen’s cherries, apricots, 
strawberries, and flowers, though he knew she set 
such a high value on them that it was as much as a 
man’s life was worth to touch one. The gardeners, 
all amazed, came and told their majesties that Prince 
Leander was making havoc of all the fruits and flowers 
in the queen’s garden. 

What insolence ! ” said the queen ; then turning 
to Furibon, “ My pretty child, forget the pain of thy 
ear but for a moment, and fetch that vile wretch 
hither ; take our guards, both horse and foot, seize 
him, and punish him as he deserves.” 

Furibon, encouraged by his mother, and attended 
by a great number of armed soldiers, entered the 
garden, and saw Leander ; who, taking refuge under 
a tree, pelted them all with oranges. But when they 
came running towards him, thinking to have seized 
him, he was not to be seen ; he had slipped behind 
Furibon, who was in a bad condition already. But 
Leander played him one trick more ; for he pushed 
him down upon the gravel walk, and frightened him 
so that the soldiers had to take him up, carry him 
away, and put him to bed. 

Satisfied with this revenge, he returned to his 
servants, who waited for him, and, giving them money, 
sent them back to his castle, that none might know 
the secret of his red cap and roses. As yet he had not 
determined whither to go. However, he mounted his 
fine horse Gris-de-line, and, laying the reins upon his 
neck, let him take his own road. At length he arrived 
in a forest, where he stopped to shelter himself from 
the heat. He had not been above a minute there 
before he heard a lamentable noise of sighing and 
sobbing ; and, looking about him, beheld a man, who 
ran^ stopped, then ran again, sometimes crying, some- 


THE INVISIBLE PRINCE. 


183 


times silent, then tearing his hair, then thumping his 
breast like some unfortunate madman. Yet he seemed 
to be both handsome and young; his garments had 
been magnificent, but he had torn them all to tatters. 
The prince, moved with compassion, made towards him 
and mildly accosted him : Sir,’’ said he, ‘^your condi- 
tion appears so deplorable that I must ask the cause 
of your sorrow, assuring you of every assistance in my 
power.” 

Oh, sir,” answered the young man, nothing can 
cure my grief; this day my dear mistress is to be 
sacrificed to a rich old ruffian of a husband who will 
make her miserable.” 

Does she love you, then ? ” asked Leander. 

I flatter myself so,” answered the young man. 

Where is she ? ” continued Leander. 

In a castle at the end of this forest,” replied the 
lover. 

“Very well,” said Leander; “stay you here till I 
come again, and in a little while I will bring you good 
news.” 

He then put on his little red cap, and wished him- 
self in the castle. He had hardly got thither before 
he heard all sorts of music. He entered into a great 
room, where the friends and kindred of the old man 
and the young lady were assembled. No one could 
look more amiable than she ; but the paleness of her 
complexion, the melancholy that appeared in her 
countenance, and the tears that now and then dropped, 
as it were by stealth, from her eyes, betrayed the 
trouble of her mind. 

Leander now became invisible, and placed himself 
in a corner of the room. He soon perceived the father 
and mother of the bride ; and coming behind the 
mother’s chair, whispered in her ear, “ If you marry 
your daughter to that old dotard, before eight days are 


184 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


over you shall certainly die.” The woman, frightened 
to hear such a terrible sentence pronounced upon her, 
and yet not know from whence it came, gave a loud 
shriek, and dropped upon the floor. Her husband 
asked what ailed her ; she cried that she was a dead 
woman if the marriage of her daughter went forward, 
and therefore she would not consent to it for all the 
world. Her husband laughed at her, and called her a 
fool. But the invisible Leander, accosting the man, 
threatened him in the same way, which frightened 
him so terribly that he also insisted on the marriage 
being broken off. When the lover complained, Lean- 
der trod hard upon his gouty toes, and rang such an 
alarum in his ears that, not being able any longer to 
hear himself speak, away he limped, glad enough to 
go. The real lover soon appeared, and he and his 
fair mistress fell joyfully into one another’s arms, the 
parents consenting to their union. Leander, assuming 
his own shape, appeared at the hall-door, as if he were 
a stranger drawn thither by the report of this extraor- 
dinary wedding. 

From hence he travelled on, and came to a great 
city, where, upon his arrival, he understood there was 
a great and solemn procession, in order to shut up a 
young woman, against her will, among the vestal nuns. 
The prince was touched with compassion ; and think- 
ing the best use he could make of his cap was to 
redress public wrongs and relieve the oppressed, he 
flew to the temple, where he saw the young woman, 
crowned with flowers, clad in white, and with her di- 
shevelled hair flowing about her shoulders. Two of 
her brothers led her by each hand, and her mother 
followed her with a great crowd of men and women. 
Leander, being invisible, cried out, Stop, stop, wicked 
brethren ; stop, rash and inconsiderate mother ; if you 
proceed any further, you shall be squeezed to death like 


THE INVISIBLE PRINCE. 


185 


so many frogs/’ They looked about, but could not 
conceive from whence these terrible menaces came. 
The brothers said it was only their sister’s lover, who 
had hid himself in some hole ; at which Leander, in 
wrath, took a long cudgel, and they had no reason to 
say the blows were not well laid on. The multitude 
fled, the vestals ran away, and Leander was left alone 
with the victim ; immediately he pulled off his red 
cap, and asked her wherein he might serve her. She 
answered him that there was a certain gentleman 
whom she would be glad to marry, but that he wanted 
an estate. Leander then shook his rose so long that 
he supplied them with ten millions ; after which they 
married, and lived happily together. 

But his last adventure was the most agreeable. 
Entering into a wide forest, he heard lamentable cries. 
Looking about him every way, at length he spied four 
men well armed, who were carrying away by force a 
young lady, thirteen or fourteen years of age ; upon 
which, making up to them as fast as he could, What 
harm has that girl done ? ” said he. 

“ Ha, ha ! my little master,” cried he who seemed 
to be the ringleader of the rest, “ who bade you 
inquire ? ” 

“ Let her alone,” said Leander, ‘^and go about your 
business.” 

Oh, yes, to be sure,” cried they, laughing ; where- 
upon the prince, alighting, put on his red cap, not 
thinking it otherwise prudent to attack four who 
seemed strong enough to flght a dozen. One of them 
stayed to take care of the young lady, while the three 
others went after Gris-de-line, who gave them a great 
deal of unwelcome exercise. 

Meantime the young lady continued her cries and 
complaints : Oh, my dear princess,” said she, how 
happy was I in your palace ! Did you but know my 


186 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


sad misfortune, you would send your Amazons to rescue 
poor Abricotina.’’ 

Leander, having listened to what she said, without 
delay seized the ruffian that held her, and bound him 
fast to a tree, before he had time or strength to defend 
himself. He then went to the second, and taking him 
by both arms, bound him in the same manner to 
another tree. In the meantime Abricotina made the 
best of her good fortune, and betook herself to her 
heels, not knowing which way she went. But Leander, 
missing her, called out to his horse Gris-de-line ; who, 
by two kicks with his hoof, rid himself of the two 
ruffians who had pursued him ; one of them had his 
head broken, and the other, three of his ribs. And 
now Leander only wanted to overtake Abricotina ; for 
he had thought her so handsome that he wdshed to see 
her again. He found her leaning against a tree. When 
she saw Gris-dedine coming towards her, How lucky 
am I ! ” cried she ; ‘‘ this pretty little horse will carry 
me to the Palace of Pleasure.” Leander heard her, 
though she saw him not ; he rode up to her ; Gris-de- 
line stopped, and when Abricotina mounted him, 
Leander clasped her in his arms and placed her gently 
before him. Oh, how great was Abricotina’s fear to feel 
herself fast embraced and yet see nobody ! She durst 
not stir, and shut her eyes for fear of seeing a spirit. 
But Leander took off his little cap. How comes it, 
fair Abricotina,” said he, that you are afraid of me, 
who delivered you out of the hands of the ruffians ? ” 

With that she opened her eyes, and knowing him 
again, Oh, sir,” said she, “ I am infinitely obliged to 
you ; but I was afraid, for I felt myself held fast, and 
could see no one.” 

“ Surely,” replied Leander, “ the danger you have 
been in has disturbed you, and cast a mist before your 
eyes.” 


THE INVISIBLE PlilNCE. 


187 


Abricotina would not seem to doubt liim, though she 
was otherwise extremely sensible. And after they had 
talked for some time of indifferent things, Leander 
requested her to tell him her age, her country, and by 
what accident she fell into the hands of the ruffians. 

Know then, sir,” said she, there was a certain 
very great fairy married to a prince who wearied of 
her ; she therefore banished him from her presence, 
and established herself and daughter in the Island of 
Calm Delights. The princess, who is my mistress, 
being very fair, has many lovers — among others, one 
named Furibon, whom she detests ; he it was whose 
ruffians seized me to-day when I was wandering in 
search of a stray parrot. Accept, noble prince, my best 
thanks for your valor, which I shall never forget.” 

Leander said how happy he was to have served her, 
and asked if he could not obtain admission into the 
island. Abricotina assured him this was impossible, 
and therefore he had better forget all about it. While 
they were thus conversing, they came to the bank of a 
large river. Abricotina alighting with a nimble jump 
from the horse — 

Farewell, sir,” said she to the prince, making a 
profound reverence, ‘‘1 wish you every happiness.” 

“ And I,” said Leander, wish that I may now and 
then have a small share in your remembrance.” 

So saying he galloped away, and soon entered into 
the thickest part of a wood, near a river, where he 
unbridled and unsaddled Gris-de-line ; then, putting 
on his little cap, wished himself in the Island of Calm 
Delights, and his wish was immediately accomplished. 

The palace was of pure gold, and stood upon pillars 
of crystal and precious stones, which represented The 
zodiac and all the wonders of nature ; all the arts and 
sciences ; the sea, with all the variety of fish therein 
contained ; the earth, with all the various creatures 


188 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


which it produces ; the chases of Diana and her 
nymphs ; the noble exercises of the Amazons ; the 
amusements of a country life ; flocks of sheep with 
their shepherds and dogs ; the toils of agriculture, 
harvesting, gardening. And among all this variety of 
representations, there was neither man nor boy to be 
seen — not so much as a little winged Cupid ; so highly 
had the princess been incensed against her inconstant 
husband as not to show the least favor to his fickle sex. 

Abricotina did not deceive me,” said Leander to 
himself ; they have banished from hence the very 
idea of men ; now let us see what they have lost by 
it.” With that he entered into the palace, and at 
every step he took he met with objects so wonderful 
that when he had once fixed his eyes upon them, he 
had much ado to take them off again. He viewed a 
vast number of these apartments, some full of china 
no less fine than curious ; others lined with porcelain 
so delicate that the walls were quite transparent. 
Coral, jasper, agates, and cornelians adorned the rooms 
of state, and the presence-chamber was one entire 
mirror. The throne was one single pearl, hollowed 
like a shell ; the princess sat, surrounded by her maid- 
ens, none of whom could compare with herself. In 
her was all the innocent sweetness of youth, joined to 
the dignity of maturity ; in truth, she was perfection ; 
and so thought the invisible Leander. 

Not seeing Abricotina, she asked where she was. 
Upon that, Leander, being very desirous to speak, 
assumed the tone of a parrot, for there were many in 
the room ; and addressing himself invisibly to the 
princess — 

Most charming princess,” said he, Abricotina 
will return immediately. She was in great danger of 
being carried away from this palace, but for a young 
prince who rescued her.” 


THE INVISIBLE PRINCE. 


189 


The princess was surprised at the parrot, his answer 
was so extremely pertinent : 

You are very rude, little parrot,’’ said the prin- 
cess ; and Abricotina, when she comes, shall chastise 
you for it.” 

“ I shall not be chastised,” answered Leander, still 
counterfeiting the parrot’s voice ; moreover, she will 
let you know the great desire that stranger had to be 
admitted into this palace, that he might convince you 
of the falsehood of those ideas which you have con- 
ceived against his sex.” 

In truth, pretty parrot,” cried the princess, it 
is a pity you are not every day so diverting ; I should 
love you dearly.” 

Ah ! if prattling will please you, madam,” replied 
Leander, I will prate from morning till night.” 

But,” continued the princess, how shall I be sure 
my parrot is not a sorcerer ? ” 

He is more in love than any sorcerer can be,” 
replied the prince. 

At this moment Abricotina entered the room, and, 
falling at her lovely mistress’s feet, gave her a full 
account of what had befallen her, and described the 
prince in the most glowing colors. 

I should have hated all men,” added she, had I 
not seen him ! Oh, madam, how charming he is ! His air 
and all his behavior have something in them so noble ; 
and, though whatever he spoke was infinitely pleasing, 
yet I think I did well in not bringing him hither.” 

To this the princess said nothing, but she asked 
Abricotina a hundred other questions concerning the 
prince ; whether she knew his name, his country, his 
birth, from whence he came and whither he was going ; 
and after this she fell into a profound thoughtfulness. 

Leander observed everything, and continued to chat- 
ter as he had begun ; 


190 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


‘‘ Abricotina is ungrateful, madam,” said he ; that 
poor stranger will die for grief if he sees you not.” 

Well, parrot, let him die,” answered the princess, 
with a sigh ; and since thou undertakest to reason 
like a person of wit, and not like a little bird, I 
forbid thee to talk to me any more of this unknown 
person.” 

Leander was overjoyed to find that Abricotina’s and 
the parrot’s discourse had made such an impression on 
the princess. He looked upon her with pleasure and 
delight. “ Can it be,” said he to himself, that the 
masterpiece of nature, that the wonder of our age, 
should be confined eternally in an island, and no 
mortal dare to approach her ? But,” continued he, 
wherefore am I concerned that others are banished 
hence, since I have the happiness to be with her, to 
see her, to hear and to admire her ; nay, more, to love 
her above all the women in the universe ? ” 

It was late, and the princess retired into a large 
room of marble and porphyry, where several bubbling 
fountains refreshed the air with an agreeable coolness. 
As soon as she entered the music began, a sumptuous 
supper was served up, and the birds from several 
aviaries on each side of the room, of which Abricotina 
had the chief care, opened their little throats in the 
most agreeable manner. 

Leander had travelled a journey long enough to 
give him a good appetite, which made him draw near 
the table, where the very smell of such viands was 
agreeable and refreshing. The princess had a curious 
tabby-cat, for which she had a great kindness. This 
cat one of the maids of honor held in her arms, saying, 
Madam, Bluet is hungry ! ” With that a chair was 
presently brought for the cat, for he was a cat of 
quality, and had a necklace of pearl about his neck. 
He was served on a gold plate, with a laced napkin 


THE INVISIBLE PRINCE. 


191 


before him ; and the plate being supplied with meat, 
Bluet sat with the solemn importance of an alderman. 

Ho, ho ! cried Leander to himself. An idle 
tabby malkin, that perhaps never caught a mouse in 
his life, and, I dare say, is not descended from a better 
family than myself, has the honor to sit at table with 
my mistress. I would fain know whether he loves her 
so well as I do.” 

Saying this, he placed himself in the chair with the 
cat upon his knee, for nobody saw him, because he 
had his little red cap on. Finding Bluet’s plate well 
supplied with partridge, quails, and pheasants, he 
made so free with them that whatever was set before 
master puss disappeared in a trice. The whole court 
said no cat ever ate with a better appetite. There were 
excellent ragouts, and the prince made use of the cat’s 
paw to taste them ; but he sometimes pulled his paw 
too roughly, and Bluet, not understanding raillery, 
began to mew and be quite out of patience. The 
princess observing it, Bring that fricassee and that 
tart to poor Bluet,” said she. See how he cries to 
have them.” 

Leander laughed to himself at the pleasantness of 
this adventure; but he was very thirsty, not being 
accustomed to make such large meals without drink- 
ing. By the help of the cat’s paw he got a melon, 
with which he somewhat quenched his thirst; and 
when supper was quite over, he went to the beaufet 
and took two bottles of delicious wine. 

The princess now retired into her boudoir, ordering 
Abricotina to follow her and make fast the door ; but 
they could not keep out Leander, who was there as 
soon as they. However, the princess, believing her- 
self alone with her confidante — 

Abricotina,” said she, tell me truly, did you 
exaggerate in your description of the unknown prince. 


192 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


for methinks it is impossible lie should be as amiable 
as you say ? ” 

Madam,’’ replied the damsel, if I have failed in 
anything, it was in coming short of what was due to 
him.” 

The princess sighed, and was silent for a time ; then 
resuming her speech : I am glad,” said she, “ thou 
didst not bring him with thee.” 

But, madam,” answered Abricotina, who was a 
cunning girl, and already penetrated her mistress’s 
thoughts, suppose he had come to admire the 
wonders of these beautiful mansions, what harm could 
he have done us ? Will you live eternally unknown 
in a corner of the world, concealed from the rest of 
human kind ? Of what use is all your grandeur, 
pomp, magnificence, if nobody sees it?” 

Hold thy peace, prattler,” replied the princess, 
and do not disturb that happy repose which I have 
enjoyed so long.” 

Abricotina durst make no reply ; and the princess, 
having waited her answer for some time, asked her 
whether she had anything to say. Abricotina then 
said she thought it was to very little purpose her 
mistress having sent her picture to the courts of 
several princes, where it only served to make those 
who saw it miserable ; that every one would be desir- 
ous to marry her, and as she could not marry them all, 
indeed none of them, it would make them desperate. 

“ Yet for all that,” said the princess, I could wish 
my picture were in the hands of this same stranger.” 

Oh, madam,” answered Abricotina, is not his 
desire to see you violent enough already ? Would you 
augment it ? ” 

Yes,” replied the princess ; a certain impulse of 
vanity, which I was never sensible of till now, has 
bred this foolish fancy in me,” 


THE INVISIBLE PRINCE. 


193 


Leander heard all this discourse, and lost not a 
tittle of what she said ; some of her expressions gave 
him hope, others absolutely destroyed it. The prin- 
cess presently asked Abricotina whether she had seen 
anything extraordinary during her short travels. 

“ Madam,” said she, “ I passed through one forest 
where I saw certain creatures that resembled little 
children; they skip and dance upon the trees like 
squirrels ; they are very ugly, but have wonderful 
agility and address.” 

I wish I had one of them,” said the princess, 
“ but if they are so nimble as you say they are, it is 
impossible to catch one.” 

Leander, who passed through the same forest, knew 
what Abricotina meant, and presently wished himself 
in the place. He caught a dozen of little monkeys, 
some bigger, some less, and all of different colors, 
and with much ado put them into a large sack ; 
then, wishing himself at Paris, where, he had heard, 
a man might have everything for money, he went and 
bought a little gold chariot. He taught six green 
monkeys to draw it ; they were harnessed with fine 
traces of flame-colored morocco leather. He went to 
another place, where he met with two monkeys of 
merit, the most pleasant of which was called Briscam- 
bril, the other Pierceforest, — both very spruce and 
well educated. He dressed Briscambril like a king, 
and placed him in the coach ; Pierceforest he made 
the coachman ; the others were dressed like pages ; all 
which he put into his sack, coach and all. 

The princess, not being gone to bed, heard a rum- 
bling of a little coach in the long gallery ; at the same 
time her ladies came to tell her that the king of the 
dwarfs was arrived, and the chariot immediately 
entered her chamber with all the monkey train. The 
country monkeys began to show a thousand tricks. 


194 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


which far surpassed those of Briscambril and Pierce- 
forest. To say the truth, Leander conducted the 
whole machine. He drew the chariot where Briscani- 
bril sat arrayed as a king, and making him hold a box of 
diamonds in his hand he presented it with a becoming 
grace to the princess. The princess’s surprise may be 
easily imagined. Moreover, Briscambril made a sign 
for Pierceforest to come and dance with him. The 
most celebrated dancers were not to be compared with 
them in activity. But the princess, troubled that she 
could not guess from whence this curious present 
came, dismissed the dancers sooner than she would 
otherwise have done, though she was extremely 
pleased with them. 

Leander, satisfied with having seen the delight the 
princess had taken in beholding the monkeys, thought 
of nothing now but to get a little repose, which he 
greatly wanted. He stayed some time in the great 
gallery ; afterwards, going down a pair of stairs, and 
finding a door open, he entered into an apartment the 
most delightful that ever was seen. There was in it 
a bed of cloth of gold, enriched with pearls, inter- 
mixed with rubies and emeralds ; for by this time 
there appeared daylight sufficient for him to view and 
admire the magnificence of this sumptuous furniture. 
Having made fast the door, he composed himself to 
sleep. Next day he rose very early, and looking 
about on every side, he spied a painter’s pallet, with 
colors ready prepared, and pencils. Bemembering 
what the princess had said to Abricotina touching her 
own portrait, he immediately (for he could paint as 
well as the most excellent masters) seated himself 
before a mirror, and drew his own picture first ; then, 
in an oval, that of the princess. He had all her 
features so strong in his imagination that he had no 
occasion for her sitting ; and as his desire to please 


THE INVISIBLE PRINCE. 


195 


her had set him to work, never did portrait bear a 
stronger resemblance. He had painted himself upon 
one knee, holding the princess’s picture in one hand, 
and in the other a label with this inscription : She 
is better in my heart.” When the princess went into 
her cabinet, she was amazed to see the portrait of a 
man ; and she fixed her eyes upon it with so much the 
more surprise, because she also saw her own with it, 
and because the words which were written upon the 
label afforded her ample room for curiosity. She 
persuaded herself that it was Abricotina’s doing ; and 
all she desired to know was, whether the portrait 
were real or imaginary. Rising in haste, she called 
Abricotina, while the invisible Leander, with his 
little red cap, slipped into the cabinet, impatient to 
know what passed. The princess bid Abricotina look 
upon the picture, and tell her what she thought of it. 

After she had viewed it, I protest,” said she, ’tis 
the picture of that generous stranger to whom I am 
indebted for my life. Yes, yes, I am sure it is he ; 
his very features, shape, and hair.” 

Thou pretendest surprise,” said the princess, but 
I know it was thou thyself who put it there.” 

Who ! I, madam ? ” replied Abricotina ; I pro- 
test I never saw the picture before in my life. Should 
I be so bold as to conceal from your knowledge a thing 
that so nearly concerns you ? And by what miracle 
could I come by it ? I never could paint, nor did 
any man ever enter this place ; yet here he is painted 
with you.” 

Some spirit, then, must have brought it hither,” 
cried the princess. 

How I tremble for fear, madam ! ” said Abri- 
cotina. Was it not rather some lover ? And there- 
fore, if you will take my advice, let us burn it im- 
mediately.” 


196 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


’T were a pity to burn it,” cried the princess, 
sighing ; a finer piece, methinks, cannot adorn my 
cabinet.” And saying these words, she cast her eyes 
upon it. But Abricotina continued obstinate in her 
opinion that it ought to be burnt, as a thing that 
could not come there but by the power of magic. 

And these words, ^ She is better in my heart,’ ” 
said the princess ; must we burn them too ? ” 

hTo favor must be shown to anything,” said Abri- 
cotina, ‘^not even to your own portrait.” 

Abricotina ran away immediately for some fire, 
while the princess went to look out at the window. 
Leander, unwilling to let his performance be burnt, 
took this opportunity to convey it away without being 
perceived. He had hardly quitted the cabinet, when 
the princess turned about to look once more upon that 
enchanting picture, which had so delighted her. But 
how was she surprised to find it gone ! She sought for 
it all the room over ; and Abricotina, returning, was 
no less surprised than her mistress ; so that this last 
adventure put them both in the most terrible fright. 

Leander took great delight in hearing and seeing 
his incomparable mistress, even though he had to eat 
every day at her table with the tabby-cat, who fared 
never the worse for that ; but his satisfaction was far 
from being complete, seeing he durst neither speak 
nor show himself ; and he knew it was not a common 
thing for ladies to fall in love with persons invisible. 

The princess had a universal taste for amusement. 
One day she was saying to her attendants that it 
would give her great pleasure to know how the ladies 
were dressed in all the courts of the universe. There 
needed no more words to send Leander all over the 
world. He wished himself in China, where he bought 
the richest stuffs he could lay his hands on, and got 
patterns of all the court fashions. From thence he 


THE INVISIBLE PRINCE. 197 

flew to Siam, where he did the same ; in three days he 
travelled over all the four parts of the world, and, from 
time to time, brought what he bought to the Palace of 
Calm Delights, and hid it all in a chamber, which he 
kept always locked. When he had thus collected 
together all the rarities he could meet with — for he 
never wanted money, his rose always supplying him 
— he went and bought five or six dozen of dolls, which 
he caused to be dressed at Paris, the place in the 
world where most regard is paid to fashions. They 
were all dressed differently, and as magnificent as 
could be, and Leander placed them all in the princess’s 
closet. When she entered it, she was agreeably sur- 
prised to see such a company of little mutes, every 
one decked with watches, bracelets, diamond buckles 
or necklaces ; and the most remarkable of them held 
a picture-box in its hand, which the princess opening, 
found it contained Leander’s portrait. She gave a 
loud shriek, and looking upon Abricotina, “ There 
have appeared of late,” said she, “ so many wonders 
in this place that I know not what to think of them : 
my birds are all grown witty ; I cannot so much as 
wish but presently I have my desires ; twice have I 
now seen the portrait of him who rescued thee from 
the ruffians ; and here are silks of all sorts, diamonds, 
embroideries, laces, and an infinite number of other 
rarities. What fairy is it that takes such care to pay 
me these agreeable civilities ? ” 

Leander was overjoyed to hear and see her so much 
interested about his picture, and calling to mind that 
there was in a grotto which she often frequented a 
certain pedestal, on which a Diana, not yet finished, 
was to be erected, on this pedestal he resolved to 
place himself, crowned with laurel, and holding a lyre 
in his hand, on which he played like another Apollo. 
He most anxiously waited the princess’s retiring to 


198 


THE EAHIV BOOK. 


the grotto, which she did' every day since her thoughts 
had been taken up with this unknown person ; for what 
Abricotina had said, joined to the sight of the picture, 
had almost destroyed her repose : her lively humor 
changed into a pensive melancholy, and she grew a 
great lover of solitude. When she entered the grotto, 
she made a sign that nobody should follow her, so 
that her young damsels dispersed themselves into the 
neighboring walks. The princess threw herself upon 
a bank of green turf, sighed, wept, and even talked, 
but so softly that Leander could not hear what she 
said. He had put his red cap on, that she might not 
see him at first ; but having taken it off she beheld 
him standing on the pedestal. At first she took him 
for a real statue, for he observed exactly the attitude 
in which he placed himself, without moving so much 
as a finger. She beheld with a kind of pleasure 
intermixed with fear, but pleasure soon dispelled her 
fear, and she continued to view the pleasing figure, 
which so exactly resembled life. The prince, having 
tuned his lyre, began to play ; at which the princess, 
greatly surprised, could not resist the fear that seized 
her ; she grew pale, and fell into a swoon. Leander 
leaped from the pedestal, and putting on his little red 
cap, that he might not be perceived, took the princess 
in his arms, and gave her all the assistance that his 
zeal and tenderness could inspire. At length she 
opened her charming eyes, and looked about in search 
of him, but she could perceive nobody ; yet she felt 
somebody who held her hands, kissed them, and be- 
dewed them with his tears. It was a long time before 
she durst speak, and her spirits were in a confused 
agitation between fear and hope. She was afraid of 
the spirit, but loved the figure of the unknown. At 
length she said : Courtly invisible, why are you not 
the person I desire you should be ? ” At these words 


THE INVISIBLE PIIINCE. 


199 


Leander was going to declare himself, but durst not 
do it yet. For/’ thought he, if I again affright the 
object I adore, and make her fear me, she will not love 
me.” This consideration caused him to keep silence. 

The princess then, believing herself alone, called 
Abricotina and told her all the wonders of the ani- 
mated statue ; that it had played divinely, and that 
the invisible person had greatly assisted her when 
she lay in a swoon. 

‘‘ What pity ’t is,” said she, that this person 
should be so frightful, for nothing can be more 
amiable or acceptable than his behavior ! ” 

‘‘ Who told you, madam,” answered Abricotina, 
“ that he is frightful ? If he is the youth who saved 
me, he is beautiful as Cupid himself.” 

If Cupid and the unknown are the same,” replied 
the princess, blushing, I could be content to love 
Cupid ; but, alas, how far am I from such a happi- 
ness ! I love a mere shadow ; and this fatal picture, 
joined to what thou hast told me, has inspired me 
with inclinations so contrary to the precepts which I 
received from my mother that I am daily afraid of 
being punished for them.” 

Oh ! madam,” said Abricotina, interrupting her, 
have you not troubles enough already ? Why should 
you anticipate afflictions which may never come to 
pass ? ” 

It is easy to imagine what pleasure Leander took 
in this conversation. 

In the meantime the little Furibon, still enamored 
of the princess, whom he had never seen, expected 
with impatience the return of the four servants whom 
he had sent to the Island of Calm Delights. One of 
them at last came back, and after he had given the 
prince a particular account of what had passed told 
him that the island was defended by Amazons, and 


200 


THE FAIRY BOOR. 


that unless he sent a very powerful army it would 
be impossible to get into it. The king his father was 
dead, and Furibon was now lord of all ; disdaining, 
therefore, any repulse, he raised an army of four 
hundred thousand men, and put himself at the head 
of them, appearing like another Tom Thumb upon a 
war-horse. Now, when the Amazons perceived his 
mighty host they gave the princess notice of it, who 
immediately despatched away her trusty Abricotina to 
the kingdom of the fairies to beg her mother’s instruc- 
tions as to what she should do to drive the little 
Furibon from her territories. But Abricotina found 
the fairy in an angry humor. 

“ Nothing that my daughter does,” said she, es- 
capes my knowledge. The Prince Leander is now in 
her palace ; he loves her, and she has a tencferness 
for him. All my cares and precepts have not been 
able to guard her from the tyranny of love, and she 
is now under its fatal dominion. But it is the decree 
of destiny, and I must submit ; therefore, Abricotina, 
begone ! nor let me hear a word more of a daughter 
whose behavior has so much displeased me.” 

Abricotina returned with these ill tidings, whereat 
the princess was almost distracted ; and this was soon 
perceived by Leander, who was near her, though she 
did not see him. He beheld her grief with the great- 
est pain. However, he durst not then open his lips ; 
but, recollecting that Furibon was exceedingly covet- 
ous, he thought that by giving him a sum of money 
he might perhaps prevail with him to retire. There- 
upon, he dressed himself like an Amazon, and wished 
himself in the forest, to catch his horse. He had no 
sooner called him than Gris-de-line came leaping, 
])rancing, and neighing for joy, for he was grown 
(piite weary of being so long absent from his- dear 
master ; but when he beheld him dressed as a woman 


THE INVISIBLE PBINCE. 


201 


he hardly knew him. However, at the sound of his 
voice, he suffered the prince to mount, and they soon 
arrived in the camp of Furibon, where they gave 
notice that a lady was come to speak with him, from 
the Princess of Calm Delights. Immediately the 
little fellow put on his royal robes, and having placed 
himself upon his throne he looked like a great toad 
counterfeiting a king. 

Leander harangued him, and told him that the 
princess, preferring a quiet and peaceable life to the 
fatigues of war, had sent to offer his majesty as much 
money as he pleased to demand, provided he would 
suffer her to continue in peace ; but if he refused her 
proposal she would omit no means that might serve 
for her defence. Furibon replied that he took pity 
on her, and would grant her the honor of his pro- 
tection ; but that he demanded a hundred thousand 
thousand millions of pounds, and without which he 
would not return to his kingdom. Leander answered 
that such a vast sum would be too long a-counting, 
and therefore, if he would say how many rooms full 
he desired to have, the princess was generous and rich 
enough to satisfy him. Furibon was astonished to 
hear that, instead of entreating, she would rather 
offer more ; and it came into his wicked mind to take 
all the money he could get, and then seize the Amazon 
and kill her, that she might never return to her mis- 
tress. He told Leander, therefore, that he would 
have thirty chambers of gold, all full to the ceiling. 
Leander, being conducted into the chambers, took his 
rose and shook it till every room was filled with all* 
sorts of coin. Furibon was in an ecstasy, and the 
more gold he saw the greater was his desire to get 
hold of the Amazon ; so that when all the rooms were 
full he commanded his guards to seize her, alleging 
she had brought him counterfeit money. Immediately 


202 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Leander put on his little red cap and disappeared. 
The guards, believing that the lady had escaped, ran 
out and left Furibon alone ; when Leander, availing 
himself of the opportunity, took the tyrant by the 
hair, and twisted his head off with the same ease he 
would a pullet’s ; nor did the little wretch of a king 
see the hand that killed him. 

Leander, having got his enemy’s heg.d, wished him- 
self in the Palace of Calm Delights, where he found 
the princess walking, and with grief considering the 
message which her mother had sent her, and on the 
means to repel Furibon. Suddenly she beheld a head 
hanging in the air, with nobody to hold it. This 
prodigy astonished her so that she could not tell what 
to think of it; but her amazement was increased 
when she saw the head laid at her feet, and heard a 
voice utter these words : 

“ Charming princess, cease your fear 
Of Furibon ; whose head see here.” 

Abricotina, knowing Leander’s voice, cried : I 

protest, madam, the invisible person who speaks is 
the very stranger that rescued me.” 

The princess seemed astonished, but yet pleased. 

“ Oh,” said she, “ if it be true that the invisible 
and the stranger are the same person, I confess I shall 
be glad to make him my acknowledgments ! ” 

Leander, still invisible, replied : I will yet do 
more to deserve them ; ” and so saying he returned to 
Furibon’s army, where the report of the king’s death 
'was already spread throughout the camp. As soon 
as Leander appeared there in his usual habit every- 
body knew him ; all the officers and soldiers sur- 
rounded him, uttering the loudest acclamations of 
joy. In short, they acknowledged him for their 
king, and that the crown of right belonged to him ; 


THE INVISIBLE PRINCE. 


203 


for wliich he thanked them, and, as .the first mark of 
Ids royal bounty, divided the thirty rooms of gold 
among the soldiers. This done, he returned to his 
princess, ordering the army to march back into his 
kingdom. 

The pincess was gone to bed. Leander, therefore, 
retired into his own apartment, for he was very sleepy 
— so sleepy that he forgot to bolt his door ; and so it 
happened that the princess, rising early to taste the 
morning air, chanced to enter into this very chamber, 
and was greatly astonished to find a young prince 
asleep upon the bed. She took a full view of him, 
and was convinced that he was the person whose 
picture she had in her diamond box. “ It is impossi- 
ble,” said she, that this should be a spirit ; for can 
spirits sleep ? Is this a body composed of air and 
fire, without substance, as Abricotina told me ? ” 
She softly touched his hair, and heard him breathe, 
and looked at him as if she could have looked forever. 
While she was thus occupied, her mother, the fairy, 
entered with such a dreadful noise that Leander 
started out of his sleep. But how deeply was he 
affiicted to behold his beloved princess in the most 
deplorable condition ! Her mother dragged her by 
the hair, and loaded her with a thousand bitter 
reproaches. In what grief and consternation were 
the two young lovers, who saw themselves now upon 
the point of being sepa*rated forever ! The princess 
durst not open her lips, but cast her eyes upon 
Leander, as if to beg his assistance. He judged 
rightly that he ought not to deal rudely with a 
power superior to his own, and therefore he sought, 
by his eloquence and submission, to move the incensed 
fairy. He ran to her, threw himself at her feet, and 
besought her to have pity upon a young prince, who 
would never change in his affection for her daughter. 


204 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


The princess, encouraged, also embraced her mother’s 
knees, and declared that without Leander she should 
never be happy. 

Happy ! ” cried the fairy, you know not the 
miseries of love, nor the treacheries of which lovers 
are capable. They bewitch us only to poison our 
lives ; I have known it by experience ; and why will 
you suffer the same ? ” 

‘‘ Is there no exception, madam ? ” replied Leander, 
and his countenance showed him to be one. 

But neither tears nor entreaties could move the 
implacable fairy ; and it is very probable that she 
would never have pardoned them had not the lovely 
Gentilla appeared at that instant in the chamber, 
more brilliant than the sun. Embracing the old 
fairy — 

Dear sister,” said she, “ I am persuaded you can- 
not have forgotten the good office I did you when, 
after your unhappy marriage, you besought a read- 
mittance into Fairyland ; since then I never desired 
any favor at your hands, but now the time is come. 
Pardon, then, this lovely princess ; consent to her 
nuptials with this young prince. I will engage he 
shalf be ever constant to her; the thread of their 
days shall be spun of gold and silk ; they shall live to 
complete your happiness ; and I will never forget the 
obligation you lay upon me.” 

Charming Gentilla,” cridd the fairy, I consent 
to whatever you desire. Come, my dear children, 
and receive my love.” So saying, she embraced them 
both. 

Abricotina, just then entering, cast her eyes upon 
Leander ; she knew him again, and saw he was per- 
fectly happy, at which she, too, was quite satisfied. 

Prince,” condescendingly said the fairy mother, 

I will remove the Island of Calm Delights into your 


THE woodcutter’s DAUGHTER. 205 

41 

own kingdom, live with you myself, and do you great 
services.” 

Whether or not Prince Leander appreciated this 
offer, he bowed low and assured his mother-in-law 
that no favor could be equal to the one he had that 
day received from her hands. This short compliment 
pleased the fairy exceedingly, for she belonged to 
those ancient days when people used to stand a whole 
day upon one leg complimenting one another. The 
nuptials were performed in a most splendid manner, 
and the young prince and princess lived together hap- 
pily for many years, beloved by all around them. 


THE WOODCUTTEE’S DAUGHTEE. 

There was once a poor woodcutter, very miserable, 
though prudent and industrious ; he had a wife and 
three grown-up sons, yet their united labors scarcely 
sufficed for bread. hTo hope appeared of improving 
his lot, when he was one day fortunate enough to save 
the life of his master when attacked by robbers in the 
forest. 

This master was not ungrateful ; he desired the 
woodcutter to repair to him on the following day in 
order to receive a reward. The poor man did not fail, 
hoping to gain two or three crowns ; for it appeared 
so natural to defend an unarmed man that he attached 
little value to his services, considering his own danger 
not worth a thought. He put on his best array, shaved, 
and made many reverences to the porter and the 
numerous lackeys previous to an introduction to the 
master, who was much more polite than the valets. 

‘^Well, Thomas,” said he, ‘Giow can I recompense 
what you have done for me ? Without your assistance 


206 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


I should have perished; and as my life is a very 
happy one I value it accordingly.’’ 

Poor Thomas was at a loss how to reply ; he stam- 
mered out, ^^My Lord — your Grace, but could get 
no further. 

The master, in order to relieve the poor man, inter- 
rupted him thus : I understand better than yourself, 
perhaps, what would suit you ; I would not wish to 
draw you from your native condition, for I believe 
that none is more truly happy ; but I present to you 
and your children’s children, in perpetuity, the cottage 
which you inhabit in the forest. You and they shall 
have the power of cutting as much wood every year 
as you can use ; you shall work for yourself ; and if 
your sons like to hunt, all the game which they kill 
shall be for their own use. I only exact that you sell 
nothing, and that while possessing every comfort you 
seek not to quit your peaceful obscurity.” 

Thomas was so astonished that he could find no 
words to express his gratitude. He came home to his 
wife, who heartily shared his joy. The sons imme- 
diately set off for a large supply of faggots, and made 
a great fire ; but when they had been thoroughly 
warmed Mother Thomas began to say what a pity it 
was they could make no use of all the wood which 
was not burned. 

An idea has just struck me,” replied the husband ; 
“ our master gives us all we can use ; these are his 
own words — very well ; I shall be able to use enough 
to bring us in a pretty little income.” 

How ? ” said his wife. 

“ When I was a boy,” rejoined the woodcutter, my 
father taught me to make wooden shoes ; and I made 
them so light and so neat that they were everywhere 
sought for. What need now prevent me from exer- 
cising this trade ? James shall cut wood in the forest, 


THE woodcutter’s DAUGHTER. 207 

Peter shall kill game for dinner, and Paul, who has 
not the least brains of the three, shall go to sell my 
merchandise at the neighboring town. This will be 
a public benefit, by enabling the poor about us to 
dress with more decency and comfort, and it will also 
serve to furnish our own cottage, of which we shall 
make a little palace.” 

The boys, who were present, highly relished this 
idea. Mother Thomas, who was rather inclined to 
gluttony, made the most of the game which Peter pro- 
vided. A little labor, good cheer, a blazing fire, and 
perfect family concord rendered this family the hap- 
piest in the world. The master came to the cottage, 
and seeing them so united and industrious encouraged 
the trade of the wooden shoes, which increased their 
comforts without exposing them to the vices attendant 
on avarice and luxury. 

But happiness such as this seldom remains perma- 
nent. A flock of furious wolves appeared in the forest ; 
every day they devoured either helpless children or 
travellers ; they tore up the roots of trees, attacking 
even each other, while their wild howlings were heard 
night and day in the cottage of the woodcutter. 

Mother Thomas would no longer suffer her boys to 
leave home ; and when they did go in spite of her she 
remained watching at the door, refusing either to eat 
or drink until they returned. 

Such a situation was deplorable ; when at length 
the young men, who were very brave, resolved to 
deliver themselves and their master. Taking arms, 
in case they should be attacked, they went into the 
forest and digged deep pits, covering them with a little 
earth laid over some branches of trees ; and during 
this heavy labor, which lasted several days, they 
lighted great fires around them, in order to hinder the 
wolves from approaching. 


208 


THE FAIRY HOOK. 


Success crowned their enterprise, for in returning 
to the spot at sunrise they perceived that one of the 
pits had been broken into during the night, and that 
it was now quite uncovered. They charged their 
muskets, and each was disputing the honor of first 
firing, when they heard issue from the depths below a 
mild and supplicating voice imploring assistance. 

What shall we do ? ’’ said Peter ; assuredly that 
is not the roaring of a wolf ; it is, perhaps, some un- 
fortunate little wandering child. How lucky that we 
did not draw the trigger ! ” 

They approached, and distinguished a beautiful 
lady richly dressed, wearing on her head a cluster of 
diamonds which shone like a star. She appeared very 
young, and was trembling, with cold. Much rain had 
fallen during the night, and her robe of silver gauze 
was dabbled in mud and water ; her fair and tender- 
hands were all dirty, which seemed to vex her even 
more than the dangers she had experienced. She con- 
tinued, however, to struggle and to make signs for 
relief, when three enormous wolves appeared at a dis- 
tance. The brothers looked at each other expressively, 
like people who feel that all is lost, but who resolve 
to do their duty. They had a cord about them, which 
Peter fastened round his body, and let himself down 
into the pit. He took the beautiful lady on his 
shoulders, while his brothers assisted in drawing them 
up. They then stretched her on the grass, for she had 
fainted ; and now the wolves had just reached them 
— when, lo ! these beasts of prey were instantly turned 
into three little lambs, and licked the feet of the lady, 
who slowly returned to life. 

My good lads,” said she to the woodcutters, fear 
nothing. From henceforth no more dangerous animals 
than these shall trouble you. But I owe you a still 
greater recompense ; lead me to your father ; I wish to 


THE woodcutter’s DAUGHTER. 209 

felicitate him on the generosity and bravery of his 
sons.” 

The poor youths were so astonished by this advent- 
ure that they felt unable to reply ; but they respect- 
fully lifted her long train from the ground, it having 
now recovered all its splendor. 

The three lambs followed, skipping and frolicking 
before them, — they seemed to know the way ; and 
Mother Thomas, who sat at the door looking out for 
her children, was not a little surprised to behold their 
companion. 

She had, however, presence of mind to invite her 
noble guest to enter and rest — much ashamed of 
having nothing better to offer than a straw chair and 
some spring water, which was in a very clean pitcher 
on the dresser. 

I shall willingly rest an hour with you,” said the 
lady. Although you now see me for the first time, 
I am one of your best friends, of which I shall give 
you a proof. I accept a glass of water, on condition 
that your husband and children will also pledge me.” 

A glance of Mother Thomas’s eye directed her 
family ; they each sought their ordinary drinking-cup, 
which was of wood, and then bent the neck of the 
pitcher ; but what was their astonishment to perceive 
the vessel turn into wrought-silver in their hands, and 
to taste, instead of water, a liquor so delicious that 
when the woodcutter and his wife had drunk they felt 
themselves ten years younger than before. 

They threw themselves at the feet of the beautiful 
lady in terror ; for a natural instinct made them feel 
that great power is always more or less to be dreaded, 
even when employed in acts of beneficence. The lady, 
meanwhile, kindly raised them, and having spoken of 
the courage and generosity of their sons, who exposed 
themselves to the fury of wolves rather than take 


210 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


flight and abandon her, she said that her name was 
the Fairy Coquette, and that she would willingly 
relate her history. 

Previously, madam,’’ said the woodcutter, will 
you have the goodness to tell me what is a fairy ? 
During thirty years that I have inhabited this forest, 
I have heard of the devil, of the were wolf, of the 
monster of Gevaudan, but never have I heard of 
fairies.” 

“We exist, notwithstanding,” replied Coquette, 
“but not in all ages nor in all countries. We are 
supernatural beings, to whom has been imparted a 
portion of supernatural power, which we make use of 
for good or evil, according to our natural disposition ; 
in that alone consists our resemblance to men.” 

The woodcutter, who was very simple, understood 
little of this explanation ; but, like many others, had 
a profound respect for what he could not comprehend. 
He bowed down to the ground, and only requested the 
fairy to inform him why a supernatural being, so 
highly gifted, could have fallen into a pit prepared 
for wolves. 

“ It is,” replied Coquette, “ because I have an 
enemy still more powerful than myself, the En- 
chanter Barabapatapouf, the most wicked ogre in the 
world ; he has but three teeth, three hairs, one eye, 
and is fifteen feet high. AVith all these charms he 
happened to fall in love with me, and merely for 
mischief I affected to accept him. He then invited 
his friends to the nuptials ; when to his great morti- 
fication I took them to witness that I would never be 
the wife of such a monster. Barabapatapouf was 
deeply incensed, swore to be revenged, and has never 
lost an opportunity of keeping his word. I should 
have remained three days in that horrible pit but for 
the generosity of your children.” 


THE woodcutter’s DAUGHTER. 211 

They have done nothing more than their duty,’^ 
replied the woodcutter. 

I must also do mine/’ said Coquette, but my 
power is limited. I can satisfy but two wishes, and it 
is necessary that each of yon should choose freely, 
unbiassed by the other. You must separate accord- 
ingly, and to-morrow, at early dawn, come to inform 
me what you have all resolved on during the night.” 

Mother Thomas was very uneasy in thinking how 
she could accommodate the fairy, for neither her 
children’s beds nor her own were worthy of offering 
to such a grand lad}^ ; but Coquette desired her to feel 
at ease, as she would provide everything needful. 
She then drew forth some grains of sand, which she 
scattered on the floor. Instantly there arose on the 
spot a bed of rose-leaves three feet high ; the bolster 
was of violets, heartsease, and orange flowers, all 
breathing delicious perfumes ; and the counterpane, 
entirely composed of butterflies’ wings, exhibited colors 
so brilliant and varied that one could never be weary 
of examining it. The three lambs which had followed 
the fairy lay down at her feet, and as the room was 
rather damp they gently warmed it with their breath, 
with a care and intelligence almost human. The 
Woodcutter and his sons felt so surprised at all these 
wonders that they imagined themselves dreaming. 
Coquette warned Mother Thomas that if she should 
speak once to her husband before she again saw her 
the wishes could not be realized. The strictest in- 
junctions were indeed necessary, to prevent their 
communicating on a subject which interested both 
so deeply. When day appeared Coquette summoned 
them to her presence. 

The woodcutter first came, and said, with his usual 
simplicity, that he never could have believed it so 
difficult to form a wish. Till that moment he had 


212 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


considered himself happy, but now, finding it possible 
to obtain one thing, he desired a thousand. Wearied 
with the fatigue of thought, he had fallen asleep 
without coming to a determination ; but seeing in his 
dreams five purses filled with gold it seemed as if 
one were for him, one for his wife, and one for each 
of his children. 

W ell,” said Coquette, these purses are appar- 
ently your desire ; go then to the bin where you 
deposit your bread and you will find them. Only 
say how many pounds you wish them to contain.” 

“ Oh, if there were but a hundred pounds in each,” 
replied Thomas, that would be sufficient to extend 
our little commerce, and send our wooden shoes to 
China itself ! ” 

“ Your wish is accomplished,” said the fairy ; go 
away, and permit your wife to come in her turn.” 

The good dame had also passed a sleepless night, 
and had never before been so much agitated or so 
unhappy ; sometimes she wished for riches, and then 
thought riches would not prevent her from dying — 
so she had better wish that she might live a hundred 
years. Now one idea filled her mind, now another ; 
it seemed as if the fairy should have given her at 
least a month to deliberate. At last she suddenly 
said : Madam Fairy, I am very old, and what I 

desire most is a daughter, to assist me in household 
management and to keep me company ; my husband 
almost lives in the woods and leaves me at break of 
day ; my sons also go about their business ; we are 
without neighbors, and I have nobody to speak to.” 

Be it so,” said the fairy ; you shall have the 
prettiest daughter imaginable, and she shall speak 
from her birth, in order that no time may be lost. 
Call your husband and sons j I hope to find all parties 
content.” 


THE woodcutter’s DAUGHTER. 213 

The little family assembled, but harmony was not 
the result of their communications. The young men 
thought their father’s wish quite pitiful, and the 
woodcutter by no means relished the idea of another 
child. The fairy, however, provided an excellent 
breakfast, and the wine reanimated his spirits. 

Now I promise,” said Coquette, “ that you shall 
have a daughter, who at the moment of her birth will 
be endowed with the figure and the intelligence of 
twelve years old. Call her Kose, for her complexion 
shall shame the fiower which bears that name.” 

“ And I pronounce that she shall also be as black as 
ebony, and become, before the age of fifteen, the wife 
of a great king,” said a very strong voice in clear and 
distinct accents, accompanied by shouts of laughter, 
which evidently proceeded from a great pitcher placed 
at the corner of the chimney. 

The Fairy Coquette turned pale, and consternation 
was general; but the woodcutter, now merry with 
wine, joined in the laugh. “Ah, how droll,” said 
he, “ red and black roses ! A likely story, indeed, 
that a great king would come a-wooing to a wood- 
cutter’s daughter ! Only a pitcher could invent such 
nonsense, and I shall teach it to utter no more.” 

Thus saying, he gave the pitcher a great kick and 
broke it in pieces ; when there issued from it a smoke 
thick and black, and so stifling that Coquette was 
obliged to use two bottles of essence to dissipate its 
noxious effects. 

“ Ah, cruel Barabapatapouf ! ” cried she, “ must 
your malignity then extend even to those whom I, 
wish to benefit ? I indeed recognize my enemy,” 
said she to the woodcutter ; “ beware of him, and be- 
lieve that it is with no good intention he destines 
your daughter for the bride of a king. Some mystery 
is here concealed, foreboding evil.” 


214 


THE EAIKY BOOK. 


Every one was rendered quite melancholy by this 
adventure, and Coquette, beginning to weary of these 
poor foresters, opened the window and disappeared. 

A great quarrel then arose between the woodcutter 
and his sons, who, forgetting that respect in which 
they had never before failed, reproached him for 
losing an opportunity of rendering them all happy. 
^^We might,” said they, “have purchased estates, 
finery of all kinds, and been as rich and noble as 
many who now despise us. One or two millions 
would have been as easy said as five hundred pounds ; 
that sum would obtain a marquisate for my father 
and baronies for each of us. AVhat extraordinary stu- 
pidity our parents have shown ! ” 

“ My children,” said the woodcutter, “ are these 
things, then, necessary for happiness ? It appeared 
to me that you were well satisfied Avhen our master 
only made our poverty a little less oppressive ; and 
now, while you have more gold than you ever saw in 
your lives, one would suppose that you had been 
deeply injured, and could never know contentment 
more.” 

As for Mother Thomas, she was wiser, and so well 
pleased with the idea of her daughter that her imagi- 
nation roamed no farther. In course of time she gave 
birth to an infant ; but scarcely had it seen the light 
than it glided from her arms, and started up to the 
stature of a well-formed givl of twelve or thirteen 
years old, who made a low courtesy to the woodcutter, 
kissed the hand of her mother, and offered her 
brothers a cordial embrace. But these lads ill- 
naturedly repulsed the young stranger ; they felt 
jealous, fearing that she would now be preferred to 
them. 

Kose, one might say, was born dressed, for flowing 
ringlets fell around her shoulders, forming a complete 


THE AVOODCUTTEE’s DAUGHTER. 


215 


covering ; and witli lier increase of size appeared a 
little smart petticoat and brown bodice in peasant 
fashion. Her delicate feet were clad in wooden shoes, 
but both the foot and the shoe' were so shapely that 
any lady in the land might have been proud to exhibit 
them. Her little plump hand was so white that it 
hardly appeared formed for rustic labors, yet she 
immediately prepared to assist in household matters, 
and the poor old dame was never weary of caressing 
such a charming child. 

A bed was prepared for Eose beside her mpther. 
This good girl arose at dawn to prepare the young 
men’s breakfast ; for she had an excellent natural dis- 
position, and so much intelligence that she seemed to 
know by instinct that her birth was displeasing to 
them, and sought to gain their regard by good-natured 
attentions. 

Mother Thomas soon rose likewise, and returned to 
the kitchen. But what was her horror on beholding 
her daughter’s face black as ebony, her hair woolly 
and crisped like a negro’s ! As there was no mirror 
in the cottage, Eose could not understand what had so 
alarmed her mother ; she asked if she had involunta- 
rily had the misfortune to give offence. 

‘^No, no,” said the old dame, weeping; shouldst 
thou remain all thy life as black as ink I shall not 
love thee less ; but I cannot without pain recall thy 
beauties of yesterday. Thou wilt be laughed at ; and 
us too. Still, we will keep thee — thou must never 
leave us.” 

Eose readily promised she never would. But when 
her brothers returned they considered the change in 
her quite as a matter of course. They recollected the 
prediction of the pitcher, and seemed quite delighted 
to think that, since it was fulfilled in the first instance, 
they might yet become the brothers of a queen. 


216 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Meanwhile they lived on better terms with Rose, 
hoping that one day she might be of service to them. 
Far from listening to the counsels of their father, they 
endeavored to awaken in her mind the seeds of ambi- 
tion ; and, in order to further views interested and 
selfish, flattered her beauty, her talents, and her sense, 
rendering the future queen the most respectful hom- 
age, which diverted her exceedingly. 

But, strange to “say. Rose was not always black ; 
every second day she recovered her natural beauty, 
from whence it might be concluded that the influence 
of the fairy and the Enchanter Barabapatapouf oper- 
ated alternately. The woodcutter's family grew natu- 
rally accustomed to these successions ; and as habit 
reconciles people to all things ^ each color became 
indifferent to them. 

Thomas was too old to change his mode of life ; he 
would not hear of going to live in town, although they 
had money sufficient for that purpose ; he also still 
continued the making of wooden shoes. Those which 
Rose wore in winter were trimmed with lambs’ wool, 
which she wrought very dexterously ; she was clever 
and ingenious, but, it must be confessed, a little 
imperious ; and was sometimes surprised sighing like 
a person indulging in visionary wishes, and languish- 
ing under some secret chagrin. 

A year passed ; Rose grew tall, and her brothers, 
weary of waiting for an event so uncertain as her 
marriage with a king, executed a crime which they 
had long meditated. Seeing that their father had 
touched but one of the purses, they easily obtained 
possession of the rest, and rising with the dawn all 
three departed, saying, to satisfy their consciences, 
that these purses must be finally theirs, and that they 
would, meanwhile, turn them to advantage. When 
they should become very rich they would come back 


THE woodcutter’s DAUGHTER. 217 

to their parents and take care of their latter days. 
Each of them made a belt, in which he concealed his 
gold ; and with perfect concord, more frequently found 
amongst knaves than honest men, they travelled a 
hundred leagues in eight days. 

The woodcutter and his wife did not at first com- 
prehend the extent of their misfortune. They thought 
their children must have gone astray in the forest, 
and the old man wandered everywhere m search of 
them. But when he observed the loss of the purses 
the truth was revealed, and he felt ready to die with 
grief. “ Cursed gold ! ” cried he, thou hast cor- 
rupted my brave and honest boys ; they were poor, 
but virtuous ; they are now become villains, and will 
meet punishment from either man or God ! ” 

Thus saying, he took the remaining purse and flung 
it into the bottom of a well. Mother Thomas was 
vexed, but dared not speak, for the unfortunate man 
was so much irritated and troubled that he would 
have beaten her. 

When his reason cleared a little, however, he felt 
that he had committed an error in parting with his 
money, they being both old and unable to work as 
formerly. The dame sold some articles which had 
been purchased during their prosperity. But poverty 
was nothing ; it was the conduct of their sons which 
inflicted the bitter sting. How was this then aug- 
mented when some offlcers of justice arrived, and 
announced that James, Peter, and Paul had been 
arrested ! It seemed that while drinking together in 
a public house they had spread on a table all their 
gold. The host surprised them, and not believing 
that young peasants, so coarsely clothed and wearing 
wooden shoes, could lawfully be in possession of such 
a sum he had given them in charge. The poor boys, 
quite terrified, related the story of the Fairy Coquette ; 


218 


THE FAIKY BOOK. 


but as the magistrate had never seen a fairy he did 
not believe one word of the matter. 

Having then no hope but in the kindness of their 
father, they sent to summon the woodcutter and his 
wife, who confirmed all their assfertions. But as no 
money was found in the cottage, whose inhabitants 
appeared to subsist on their labor, the officers knew 
not what to thin^j;. 

Meantime they arrested the woodcutter for the pur- 
pose of identifying his children. Pale, and trembling 
like criminals, the old couple followed the guards. 
Mother Thomas was ready to faint, and doubly grieved 
for leaving poor Bose all alone, especially as this was 
her day for being white and beautiful. She begged her 
not to leave the house, but to live on the milk of her 
sheep, and to bake cakes of some meal which was 
in the bin. Their adieus were heart-rending, although 
the soldiers declared that in three days the forester 
should be at liberty to return, provided the innocence 
of his family was established. Bose believed them, 
and endeavored to take courage. But more than a 
month passed, and no tidings of her parents. She 
could not then prevent herself from w'andering a little 
on the highway ; and, having walked till sunset, wept 
so bitterly that her beauty indeed must have been a 
fairy gift to remain uninjured. 

One evening, being more worn out than usual, she 
seated herself at the foot of a tree and fell asleep. A 
slight noise awoke her, and, on looking up, she per- 
ceived a young gentleman richly dressed, who was 
contemplating her with evident astonishment. Art 
thou a goddess, or a simple mortal ? ’’ cried he. 

Sir,” replied Bose, I am the daughter of a poor 
woodcutter, who lives in the forest ; it is late, and I 
beg you will not detain me.” 

You are a wayward beauty, indeed ! ” replied the 


THE woodcutter’s DAUGHTER. 


219 


prince, for so he was ; “ but as my way lies in that 
direction I hope you will permit me to see you 
home/’ 

It is not in my power to prevent you,” said Eose, 
without raising her eyes. 

The prince at this moment remarked that she had 
been weeping, and, delighted to have an opportunity 
of offering sympathy and consolation, entreated her 
to impart her grief to him. am not actuated by 
mere curiosity,” added he ; “I never can behold a 
woman in tears without feeling moved to the bottom 
of my soul. Tell me your distress, and I will neither 
sleep nor eat till I have aided you.” 

Eose timidly raised her lovely blue eyes, to see 
whether the countenance of the prince harmonized 
with his discourse ; but although he was not actually 
ugly his features wore an expression too stern and 
hypocritical to invite her confidence. She therefore 
walked silently forward, and when near the cottage 
felt so uneasy that for the first time she invented a 
lie in order to get rid of him. You seem to com- 
passionate my sorrows,” said she ; meanwhile you 
only increase them. When my mother sees me ac- 
companied by a great gentleman like you she will 
beat me, and not believe that you have followed me 
against my will.” 

This reasoning appeared so just to the prince, who 
felt himself affected by a passion such as he had never 
before experienced, that he consented to retire, entreat- 
ing Eose to meet him the next evening at the same 
hour. She refused to give a decisive answer, and 
returned home much dejected, recalling all the words 
of the stranger, and almost reproaching herself for 
having behaved so harshly to him. 

The following day Eose took mechanically the same 
route, going always in the path by which her parents 


220 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


might be expected. Her provisions being nearly ex- 
hausted, she feared to die of hunger, and began to 
think that this gentleman, who had been repulsed so 
rudely, could, perhaps, obtain news of her family. 
Suddenly beholding him leaning against a tree, look- 
ing very melancholy and dejected, she threw herself 
at his feet, bathed in tears, and said — 

Sir, a wretch who has lost everything dear sup- 
plicates your compassion. You who are so kind — so 
tender-hearted — ” 

“ What does the vile creature want ? exclaimed 
the prince, with a savage expression. How dare 
you have the impertinence to address me ? I wonder 
what prevents me from shooting you. I lost my sport 
all yesterday in following a pretty girl ; here is game 
of a new description.’’ 

Rose started up, overwhelmed with terror, while 
the prince laughed most brutally. It was not till that 
moment she recollected that this was her black day, 
which accounted for his not recognizing her. Ah ! ” 
thought she, this is the humane man who could not 
behold a woman weep ; because my color displeases him 
he is ready to take my life. Ho hope now remains 
for me — my misfortunes are at their height ! ” 

Rose wept all night ; yet she could not prevent her- 
self from returning to the same spot on the following 
day ; she felt irresistibly led thither, dreading, and 
yet wishing, to meet the prince. 

He had been already waiting above an hour, and 
accosted her with a degree of respect quite unusual 
for him ; but he was in love, and love makes the 
worst of people better for the time. 

Cruel beauty,” said he, in a courtier-like style to 
which Rose was little accustomed, what have I not 
suffered during your absence ! I even remained all 
night in the wood, in expectation of you, and the 


THE woodcutter’s DAUGHTER. 221 

queen, my mother, despatched messengers everywhere, 
fearing some accident had befallen me.” 

The queen, your mother ! ” exclaimed Kose. 
“ Are you, then, the son of a queen ? ” 

I have betrayed myself ! ” said the prince, striking 
his forehead in a theatrical manner. ‘‘ Yes, it is true 
I have that misfortune. You will now fear me ; and 
what we fear we never love.” 

The wicked alone are to be fearecj,” answered 
Eose. I am very glad to hear that you are a king, 
for I know that you will be my husband.” 

The prince, who little guessed the enchanter’s com- 
munication, was confounded by the unembarrassed 
freedom of her manner ; but it was far from displeas- 
ing to him. You are ambitious,” said he, smiling ; 

but there is nothing to which beauty may not pre- 
tend. Tell me only how I can have the happiness of 
serving you, and you shall see that everything is pos- 
sible to love. 

Eose sat down on the grass, and related in very 
simple terms the story of the purse ; confessed that 
she had deceived him, and that, so far from being 
severely treated at home, she was now weeping 
her mother’s loss ; that the king must take measures 
for the discovery and liberation of her family before 
he could hope to win her affections or pretend to her 
hand. 

The enamored monarch vowed he would not lose a 
moment ; and, although she behaved with much dig- 
nity, her every word and look was adorable in his 
eyes. Eose thought all night of the fine fortune of 
being a queen ; she would then no longer wear wooden 
shoes ; and, above all, might have an opportunity of 
being useful to her dear parents. 

These meetings continued every alternate day dur- 
ing a week; and the queen dowager was informed 


222 


THE FAIRY BOOK. - 


that her son neglected all business, and thought of 
nothing but making love. She was in despair. This 
prince was surnained the Terrible, by reason of his 
ferocity to women ; till that moment he had never 
loved, but he had frequently made pretence of it, and 
when successful it was not unusual with him to cut 
out the poor ladies’ tongues, put out their eyes, or 
even throw them into the sea. The least pretext suf- 
ficed for this ; and the queen, who was of a kind dispo- 
sition, lamented that yet another victim was preparing. 
The courtiers begged her to be tranquil ; said it was 
nothing more than the daughter of a poor woodcutter 
whom his majesty now admired, and that if he did 
kill her it would be of little consequence. 

But the courtiers, and the queen dowager herself, 
were altogether bewildered when the king, having 
liberated the woodcutter and his family, brought 
Bose to the palace as his wife. She was not at all 
abashed or out of countenance ; she behaved with the 
utmost respect to the queen and with affability to all. 
It was universally remarked : “ The king has com- 
mitted a folly, but that charming girl is his excuse, 
and no man would have been wiser under similar 
circumstances.” 

A grand ball was given in the evening. Bose 
danced well enough for a queen ; and she yielded her- 
self up entirely to the enchantment of such a happy 
day. The prince, ever eager to be near her, was 
figuring away in a quadrille when twelve o’clock 
struck ; great, then, was his astonishment, while 
gazing passionately on his partner, he beheld — a 
negress ! 

What metamorphosis is this ? ” cried he, rudely 
seizing her arm ; “ where is the princess I married 
to-day ? ” 

Bose bent her head in confusion ; it still bore her 


THE woodcutter’s DAUGHTER. 223 

diamonds and lier crown — no doubt could exist of 
her identity. 

Wretched, hideous black, thou shalt surely die ! ” 
cried the king; ^^none shall deceive me with impu- 
nity.” He then drew a poniard, and was preparing to 
take instant vengeance, when, recollecting himself, — 
I do thee too much honor,” said he ; rather let my 
cooks cut thee in pieces to make a hash for my 
hounds.” 

The old queen, as humane as her son was cruel, 
knew there was but one means of saving the unfortu- 
nate victim ; this was to appear still more enraged 
than the king. 

I truly feel this injury,” said she ; sometimes 
you have reproached my weakness, but now behold a 
proof that I also can avenge. Your orders must be 
strictly fulfilled — I myself shall witness the execu- 
tion.” She then signed to the guards to lay hold of 
the unfortunate Rose, who was dragged away by an 
iron chain fastened round her neck. She gave her- 
self up for lost, and uttering the most heart-rending 
cries was led away to a pigeon-house at the end of the 
palace, furnished with some clean straw ; where, how- 
ever, the queen promised to come on the following 
day. 

Her majesty kept her word. Much affected by the 
sweetness of the hapless bride, she promised to miti- 
gate, as far as possible, her melancholy situation. 

Rose, very grateful, supplicated her benefactress to 
inform the woodcutter’s family that she was still alive, 
knowing what they would suffer should the story reach 
them of the black Rose having breakfasted the king’s 
hounds. The queen promised to employ a confiden- 
tial domestic ; and Rose, who had still preserved her 
wooden shoes, sent one, that her father might recog- 
nize his handiwork. 


224 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


A few days afterwards a young peasant arrived from 
the cottage ; he brought some cakes and cheese, made 
by Mother Thomas, which Eose preferred to all the 
delicacies of the palace. 

This young peasant, who was named Mirto, related 
to Eose everything concerning her dear parents, and 
took back very loving messages from her to them. 

Mirto found so much pleasure in conversing with 
the fair prisoner, and had so often cakes to carry, 
that they were seldom asunder. He said he was an 
orphan, and having some work to do in the prison 
where Thomas had been confined, there formed a 
friendship with the family. In return for some little 
services then rendered them he desired to learn the 
trade of the wooden shoes ; being very ingenious he 
became a valuable acquisition. He never had felt so 
happy before. In truth, he was not aware that this 
happiness received its date from the hour in which he 
first saw Eose. 

Alas ! the poor Eose was only too sensible of his 
affection, and feeling the duty of struggling against 
it found herself still more miserable than before. 

Whatever may be the conduct of Prince Terrible,” 
said she to herself, I have married him. It is cer- 
tainly very hard to love a husband who wished to kill 
me, but still I should not permit myself to love 
another.” 

For a whole month following she had sufficient 
resolution to see Mirto no more, and was becoming 
sick with chagrin and weariness. The queen visited 
her frequently, bringing all sorts of sweetmeats, and 
a singing-bird, to divert her captivity. She brought no 
finery ; indeed, that would have been quite thrown 
away on the pigeons. 

At length, one day Eose heard a great noise in the 
palace. People kept running to and fro — all the 


THE woodcutter’s DAUGHTER. 


225 


bells were rung, and all the cannons fired. The poor 
prisoner mounted up to one of the pigeon-holes, and 
peeping through perceived the palace hung with 
black. She knew not what to think. But soon one 
of the queen’s officers appeared, and conducted her in 
due form to the court. Rose, all trembling, inquired 
what had happened. 

^^Your majesty is a widow,” replied the officer; 

the king has been killed in hunting ; here are your 
weeds, of which the queen begs your acceptance.” 

Rose was much agitated, but she followed the officer 
in silence, with a sad and serious aspect, as a dignified 
personage should do when informed of the death of a 
husband. 

The queen was a tender mother, and although fully 
conscious of the ferocious disposition of her son she 
deeply lamented him, and wept bitterly on embracing 
her daughter-in-law. ^^Your husband is no more,” 
said she ; forget his errors, my dear child. The 
remainder of my life shall be devoted to making 
atonement for them.” 

The princess threw herself at her benefactress’ feet, 
and declared all was forgotten. “If your majesty 
deigns to permit me to speak candidly,” added she, 
“ and will bestow a moment’s attention, I shall confess 
the dearest wishes of my heart.” 

. “ Speak,” said the queen ; “ nothing now can assuage 
my grief save an opportunity of proving to you my 
friendship.” 

“I was not born for a queen,” continued Rose. 
“ My mother is a poor forester, but she has been a 
tender parent, and weeps incessantly for my absence.” 

Let her be conducted hither,” replied the queen. 

“ This is not all, madam,” continued Rose ; “ I con- 
fess that I love a young peasant, who has assisted my 
father to make wooden shoes. If I were the wife of 


226 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Mirto, and your majesty would have the goodness to 
give some assistance to my family, my old father 
might be freed from labor, and I the happiest woman 
in the world.” 

The queen embraced Eose, and promised all she 
wished. She then conducted her to the forest ; and 
just as they had reached its boundary they perceived 
in the air a mahogany car, mounted on wheels of 
niother-o’-pearl ; two pretty white lambs were yoked 
to it, which Eose immediately recognized as those of 
the Fairy Coquette. 

The car descended, and the fairy, alighting, thus 
addressed the queen : Madam, I come to seek my 
child, and am delighted to find you willing to part 
with her, for she has a lover whom I approve — who 
loves her faithfully, though hopelessly, which is a 
thing more rare than all the treasures of your majesty’s 
crown.” 

The fairy, then addressing herself to Eose, related 
that her enemy, the Enchanter Barabapatapouf, had 
just been killed in combat with another giant. 
^‘Now,” added Coquette, I have full power to render 
you happy ; ” and passing her fair hand over Eose’s 
face the negro color and features vanished to reappear 
no more. 

The queen, convinced that her daughter-in-law 
required nothing further, offered only her portrait, as 
a token of esteem and friendship. Eose received it 
with grateful respect, then ascended the fairy’s car, 
and was in a few minutes surrounded by the foresters, 
who never wearied of caressing her. Poor Mirto drew 
back trembling, not knowing whether to hope or fear ; 
but Coquette, perceiving their mutual embarrassment, 
declared that she had ordained this marriage from the 
very beginning. She blessed them, gave them a flock 
of beautiful white sheep, a cottage covered with honey- 


BROTHER AND SISTER. 


227 


suckles and roses, a lovely garden abounding with 
fruits and flowers, and a moderate sum of money; 
endowing them also with life for a hundred years, 
uninterrupted health, and constant love. 


BROTHER AND SISTER. 

A BROTHER took his sister by the hand and said : 

Since our mother is dead we have no more happy 
hours ; our stepmother beats us every day, and when- 
ever we come near her she kicks us away. She gives 
us hard crusts and nasty scraps to eat, and the dog 
under the table fares better than we do, for he does 
sometimes get a nice bit thrown to him. It would 
break our mother’s heart if she knew it. Come, we 
will go out into the wide world together.” 

They went along the whole day through meadows, 
over rocks and stones, and when it rained the little 
sister said, ‘^Heaven and our hearts are crying to- 
gether.” In the evening they came to a great wood, 
and were so worn out with grief, hunger, and weari- 
ness that they sat down in a hollow tree and went to 
sleep. 

The next morning when they awoke, the sun was 
already high in the heavens, and shone down very hot 
on the tree. Upon which said the brother ; Sister, I 
am thirsty ; I would go and have a drink if I knew 
where there was a spring. I think I can hear one 
trickling.” He got up, took his sister by the hand, 
and they went to look for the spring. 

The wicked stepmother, however, who was a witch 
and well knew how the children had run away, had 
crept after them secretly, in the way witches do, and 
had bewitched all the springs in the wood. When 


228 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


they had found a spring that was dancing brightly over 
the stones the brother stooped down to drink ; but his 
sister heard a voice in its murmur which said, Who- 
ever drinks of me will become a tiger.” Eagerly the 
little sister cried, I pray thee, brother, do not drink, 
lest thou become a wild beast and tear me to pieces ! ” 

The brother did not drink, although he was so thirsty, 
but said, I will wait for the next spring.” When 
they came to the next the little sister heard it say. 

Who drinks of me will become a wolf ; who drinks of 
me will become a wolf ! ” and cried out, 0 brother, I 
pray thee do not drink, lest thou become a wolf and 
eat me up ! ” 

The brother did not drink, but said : I will wait 
till I come to the next spring, but then I must drink, 
say what you will, for my thirst is getting unbearable.” 

And when they came to the third spring the little 
sister heard a voice in its murmur, saying, Whoever 
drinks of me will become a roe,” and she cried, O 
brother, do not drink, I pray thee, lest thou become a 
roe and run away from me ! ” But the brother had 
already knelt down by the stream, stooped down, and 
drank of the water ; and as soon as the first drop 
touched his lips there he lay — a white roe. 

The little sister cried over her poor bewitched 
brother, and the roe cried also as he rested mournfully 
beside her. At last the maiden said, Never mind, 
dear Boe, I will never forsake you.” So she to#k off 
her golden garter and put it round the roe’s neck, 
then pulled some rushes and wove them into a cord. 
To this she tied the little animal and led him on, and 
they both went still deeper into the wood. When 
they had gone a long, long way they came at last to a 
little house, into which the maiden peeped ; and as it 
was empty she thought, Here we may stay and live ; ” 
so she made a pretty bed of leaves and moss for the roe ; 


BROTHER AND SISTER. 


229 


and every morning she went out and gathered roots, ber- 
ries, and nuts for herself ; and for the roe she brought 
tender grass, which he ate out of her hand, and played 
about and was very happy. In the evening, when the 
little sister was tired and had said her prayers, she 
laid her head upon the roe, who was her pillow, and 
went sweetly to sleep ; and if her brother had only 
kept his proper shape they would have led a very 
happy life. 

They had lived alone in this way during a long 
time when it happened that the king of the country 
held a great hunt in the forest. Through the trees 
might be heard the blowing of horns, the barking of 
dogs, and the joyous cries of the hunters, which when 
the little roe heard he was almost beside himself with 
delight. Oh,’^ said he to his sister, let me go and 
see the hunt — I can no longer refrain ! and he 
begged hard till she consented. 

“ But,’^ said she, when you return at ev.ening I 
shall have shut my door against the wild huntsmen, 
and in order that I may know you, knock and say — 
‘ My little sister, let me in ; ’ but if you do not say 
so I shall not open the door.’’ 

Now off sprang the roe, and was so happy to find 
himself in the open air. The king and his huntsmen 
saw the beautiful beast and set off after him, but they 
could not catch him ; for when they thought they had 
certainly got him, he sprang over a bush and dis- 
appeared. When it was dark he galloped up to the 
little house, knocked, and cried, My little sister, let 
me in.” And when the door was opened he sprang in, 
and rested all night on his pretty little bed. Next 
morning the hunt began again, and when the roe 
heard the blast of the horns, and the Ho ! ho ! ” of 
the hunters, he could not rest, and cried, Sister, 
open the door — I must go.” 


230 


THE FAIRY ROOK. 


His sister opened the door and said, But mind you 
must be back in the evening and make your little 
speech, that I may let you in.” 

When the king and Ids huntsmen saw the white 
roe with the gold band once more they all rode after 
him, but he was too quick and agile for them. This 
chase lasted the whole day ; at last, towards evening, 
the hunters surrounded him, and wounded him with 
an arrow in the foot, so that he was forced to limp 
and go slowly. One of the hunters, creeping softly 
after him to the little house, heard him say, My 
sister, let me in,” and saw that the door was opened 
and immediately shut to again ; so he went back to 
the king, and told him all he had seen and heard. 

We will have another hunt to-morrow,” said the 
king. 

The little sister was greatly alarmed when she saw 
her white roe was wounded ; she washed off the blood, 
laid herbs upon the place, and said, “ Go now to thy 
bed, dear Boe, and get well.” 

The wound, however, was so slight that the next 
morning he felt nothing of it, and when he heard the 
noise of the hunt he said, “ I cannot keep away — 
I must go, and nothing shall keep me.” 

His sister cried and said, “ How you will go and be 
killed, and leave me here alone in the forest, forsaken 
by all the world ; I will not let you go out.” 

“ Then I shall die here of grief,” answered the roe ; 
“ for when I hear the sound of the horn I do feel as 
if I could jump out of my shoes.” So his sister 
could not do less than open the door with a heavy 
heart, and the roe sprang out joyfully into the forest. 

As soon as the king saw him he said to his hunts- 
men, How hunt him all day till evening, but don’t 
do anything to hurt him.” 

When the sun was set the king said to his hunts- 


BROTHER AND SISTER. 


231 


man, Now come and show me the little house you 
saw in the wood.” And when he was before the door 
he knocked and cried, “ Dear little sister, let me in.” 
Immediately the door opened, the king entered, and 
there stood a maiden more beautiful than any one he 
had ever seen. The damsel was frightened when she 
found there had come in, not her roe, but a man who 
wore a golden crown on his head. But the king 
looked kindly at her, took her hand, and said, Wilt 
thou go with me to my castle, and be my dear wife ? ” 
Oh, yes,” answered the maiden, ‘‘ but the roe must 
come with me, for I cannot forsake him ! ” 

The king replied, He shall remain with you as 
long as you live, and shall want for nothing.’^ 

At this moment he came springing in, his sister tied 
the cord of rushes round his neck, led him with her 
own hand, and they all left the little house together. 

The king took the beautiful maiden on his own horse 
and conducted her to his castle, where the marriage 
was celebrated with great pomp. She was now queen, 
and they lived a long time very happily together ; 
while the roe was petted and taken care of, and played 
all day about the palace garden. 

But the wicked stepmother, on whose account these 
children had been driven into the wide world, thought 
nothing less than that the little sister had been torn 
to pieces by wild beasts in the forest, and that the 
brother, in the shape of a roe, had been killed by the 
hunters. When she now heard they were so happy, 
and that everything went well with them, envy and 
spite raged in her heart and gave her no rest, and her 
only thought was how she could do some mischief to 
them both. Her own daughter, who was as ugly as 
night and had only one eye, was continually reproach- 
ing her, saying, “ It is I who ought to have been made 
queen.” 


232 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Never mind,” said the old witch to console her ; 
“ when the time comes I will manage it.” 

By and by the queen gave birth to a beautiful little 
boy ; and the king being away at the hunt the old 
witch took upon herself the form of the lady-in-wait- 
ing, entered the room where the queen lay, and said 
to her, Come, the bath is ready, which will do you 
good and give you new strength ; make haste before it 
gets cold.” Her daughter was also at hand, and they 
carried the poor weak queen between them into the 
bath-room, and laid her in the bath ; then they shut 
the door and ran away. But under the bath they 
had first lighted a great furnace-fire, so that the beau- 
tiful young queen could not save herself from being 
scorched alive. 

When that was done the old witch took her own 
daughter, put a cap on her, and laid her on the bed in 
the queen’s room. She changed her also into the 
shape of the young queen, all except her one eye, and 
she could not give her another. But in order that the 
king might not observe it she was obliged to lie on 
that side where there was no eye. In the evening, 
when he was come home, and heard that he had a 
little son, he was very much delighted, and wished to 
visit his dear wife and see how she was getting on ; on 
which the old woman cried out in a great hurry, As 
you value your life, don’t touch the curtain ; the queen 
must not see the light, and must be left quite quiet.” 
So the king went away, and never found out that it 
was a false queen in the bed. 

But when it was midnight, and all the world was 
asleep, the nurse, who was sitting beside the cradle, 
and who was the only person awake, saw the door 
open and the true queen come in. She took the baby 
out of the cradle, laid it in her arms, and nursed it 
tenderly. She then shook up the pillows, laid it down 


BROTHER AND SISTER. 


233 


again, and covered it with the counterpane. She did 
not forget the roe either, but went into the corner 
where it lay and stroked it gently. After this she 
passed out, quite silently, through the door ; and the 
nurse inquired next morning of the sentinels whether 
any one had gained entrance into the palace during 
the night, but they answered, No — we have seen 
nobody.” She continued to come in the same way for 
several nights, though she spoke never a word ; the 
nurse always saw her, but never dared to mention it. 

When some time had passed the queen at last began 
to speak, and said : 

“ How is my baby ? How is my roe ? 

I can come again twice, then forever must go.” 

The nurse could not answer her ; but when she had 
disappeared she went to the king, and told him all 
about it, upon which he cried, “ What does it mean ? 
I will myself watch by the child to-night.” 

In the evening he came to the nursery, and there at 
midnight the dead queen appeared, and said : 

“ How is my baby? How is my roe? 

I can come but once more, then forever must go ; ” 

and nursed and fondled the baby as before, then 
vanished. The king did not dare to address her, but 
watched again the following night. This time she 
said : 

“ How is my baby? How is my roe? 

I can come but this once, then forever must go.” 

Upon which the king could no longer contain him- 
self, but sprang forward and cried, Thou canst surely 
be no one but my own dear wife.” 

She replied, “ Yes, I am thy dear wife ; ” and as 


234 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


soon as she had spoken these words she was restored 
to life, and became once more fresh and blooming. 

Then she related to the king the crime committed 
on her by the old witch and her ugly daughter, whom 
he at once commanded to be brought to judgment, and 
had sentence passed upon them. The daughter was 
taken forth into the woods, where the wild beasts tore 
her in pieces, and the witch was burnt. And behold ! 
as soon as there was nothing left of her but ashes 
the white roe became changed again and resumed his 
human form ; so they all lived happily together till the 
end of their lives. 


LITTLE EED-EIDING-HOOD. 

Once there was a little village maiden, the prettiest 
ever seen. Her mother was foolishly fond of her, and 
her grandmother likewise. The old woman made for 
her a little hood, which became the damsel so well 
that ever after she went by the name of Little Eed- 
Eiding-Hood. One day when her mother was making 
cakes, she said, My child, you shall go and see your 
grandmother, for I hear she is not well ; and you shall 
take her some of these cakes and a pot of butter.’’ 

Little Eed-Eiding-Hood was delighted to go, though 
it was a long walk ; but she was a good child, and 
fond of her kind grandmother. Passing through a 
wood, she met a great wolf, who was most eager to eat 
her up, but dared not, because of a woodcutter who 
was busy hard by. So he only came and asked her 
politely where she was going. The poor child, who 
did not know how dangerous it is to stop and speak to 
wolves, replied, I am going to see my grandmother, 
and to take her a cake and a pot of butter, which my 
mother has sent her.” 


LITTLE RED-RIDING-HOOD. 235 

Is it very far from hence ? ’’ asked the wolf. 

Oh, yes, it is just above the mill which you may 
see up there — the first house you come to in the 
village ! ” 

Well, said the wolf, I will go there also, to 
inquire after your excellent grandmother; I will go 
one way, and you the other, and we will see who can 
be there first.” 

So he ran as fast as ever he could, taking the short- 
est road, but the little maiden took the longest ; for 
she stopped to pluck roses in the wood, to chase but- 
terflies, and gather nosegays of the prettiest flowers 
she could find, — she was such a happy and innocent 
little soul. 

The wolf was not long in reaching the grand- 
mother’s door. He knocked, toe — toe, and the 
grandmother said, Who is there ? ” 

It is your child. Little Eed-Riding-Hood,” replied' 
the wicked beast, imitating the girl’s voice ; I bring 
you a cake and a pot of butter, which my mother has 
sent you.” 

The grandmother, who was ill in her bed, said. 

Very well, my dear, pull the string and the latch 
will open.” The wolf pulled the string — the door 
flew open; he leaped in, fell upon the poor old 
woman, and ate her up in less than no time, tough as 
she was, for he had not tasted anything for more than 
three days. Then he carefully shut the door, and lay- 
ing himself down snugly in the bed waited for Little 
Eed-Eiding-Hood, who was not long before she came 
and knocked, toe — toe, at the door. 

Who is there ? ” said the wolf ; and the little 
maiden, hearing his gruff voice, felt sure that her 
poor grandmother must have caught a bad cold and 
be very ill indeed. 

So she answered cheerfully, It is your child. 


286 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Little Red-Riding-Hood, wlio brings you a cake and a 
pot of butter that my mother has sent you/^ 

Then the wolf, softening his voice as much as he 
could, said, ^‘Rull the string, and the latch will 
open.” 

So little Red-Riding-Hood pulled the string and the 
door opened. The wolf, seeing her enter, hid himself 
as much as he could under the coverlid of the bed, 
and said in a whisper, “ Put the cake and the pot of 
butter on the shelf, and then make haste and come to 
bed, for it is very late.” 

Little Red-Riding-Hood did not think so; but to 
please her grandmother she undressed herself and 
began to get ready for bed, when she was very much 
astonished to find how different the old woman looked 
from ordinary. 

“ Grandmother, what great arms you have ! ” 

“ That is to hug you the better, my dear.” 

“ Grandmother, what great ears you have ! ” 

That is to hear you the better, my dear.” 

“ Grandmother, what great eyes you have ! ” 

That is to see you the better, my dear.” 

“ Grandmother, what a great mouth you have ! ” 
That is to eat you up,” cried the wicked wolf ; 
and immediately he fell upon poor Little Red-Riding- 
Hood, and ate her up in a moment. 


PUSS IN BOOTS. 

A MILLER, dying, divided all his property between 
his three children. This was a very simple matter, as 
he had nothing to leave but his mill, his ass, and his 
cat ; so he made no will, and called in no lawyer, who 
would, probably, have taken a large slice out of these 


PUSS IN BOOTS. 


237 


poor possessions. The eldest son took the mill, the 
second the ass, while the third was obliged to content 
himself with the cat, at which he grumbled very much. 

My brothers,’’ said he, “ by putting their property 
together may gain an honest livelihood, but there is 
nothing left for me except to die of hunger ; unless, 
indeed, I were to kill my cat and eat him, and make 
a coat out of his skin, which would be very scanty 
clothing.” 

The cat, who heard the young man talking to him- 
self, sat up on his fore paws, and looking at him with 
a grave and wise air said, ‘‘Master, I think you 
had better not kill me ; I shall be much more useful 
to you alive.” 

“ How so ? ” asked his master. 

“ You have but to give me a sack and a pair of boots, 
such as gentlemen wear when they go shooting, and 
you will find you are not so ill off as you suppose.” 

Now, though the young miller did not much depend 
upon the cat’s words, still he thought it rather surpris- 
ing that a cat should speak at all. And he had before 
now seen him show so much adroitness and cleverness 
in catching rats and mice that it seemed advisable to 
trust him a little farther ; especially as, poor young 
fellow ! he had nobody else to trust. 

When the cat got his boots he drew them on with 
a grand air, and slinging his sack over his shoulder, 
and drawing the cords of it round his neck, he marched 
bravely to a rabbit-warren hard by, with which he was 
well acquainted. Then, putting some bran and lettuces 
into his bag, and stretching himself out beside it as if 
he were dead, he waited till some fine fat young rabbit, 
ignorant of the wickedness and deceit of the world, 
should peer into the sack to eat the food that was 
inside. This happened very shortly, for there are 
plenty of foolish young rabbits in every warren ; and 


238 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


when one of them, who really was a splendid fat 
fellow, put his head inside. Master Puss drew the 
cords immediately, and took him and killed him with- 
out mercy. Then, very proud of his prey, he marched 
direct up to the palace, and begged to speak with the 
king. He was desired to ascend to the apartment of 
his majesty, where, making a low bow, he said : 

Sire, here is a magnificent rabbit, killed in the 
warren which belongs to my lord the Marquis of 
Carabas, and which he has desired me to offer humbly 
to your majesty.’’ 

Tell your master,” replied the king politely, that 
I accept his present, and am very much obliged to 
him.” 

Another time Puss went and hid himself and his 
sack in a wheat-field, and there caught two splendid 
fat partridges in the same manner as he had done 
the rabbit. When he presented them to the king, 
with a similar message as before, his majesty was so 
pleased that he ordered the cat to be taken down into 
the kitchen and given something to eat and drink ; 
where, while enjoying himself, the faithful animal did 
not cease to talk in the most cunning way of the large 
preserves and abundant game which belonged to my 
lord the Marquis of Carabas. 

One day, hearing that the king was intending to take 
a drive along the river-side with his daughter, the 
most beautiful princess in the world. Puss said to his 
master, Sir, if you would only follow my advice, 
your fortune is made.” 

Be it so,” said the miller’s son, who was growing 
very disconsolate, and cared little what he did. Say 
your say, cat.” 

‘‘It is but little,” replied Puss, looking wise, as 
cats can. “ You have only to go and bathe in the 
river, at a place which I shall show you, and leave all 


PUSS IN BOOTS. 


239 


the rest to me. Only remember that you are no 
longer yourself, hut my lord the Marquis of Cara- 
bas.” 

Just so,” said the miller’s son, it ’s all the same 
to me ; ” but he did as the cat told him. 

While he was bathing the king and all the court 
passed by, and were startled to hear loud cries of 

Help, help ! My lord the Marquis of Carabas is 
drowning.” The king put his head out of the 
carriage, and saw nobody but the cat, who had, at 
different times, brought him so many presents of 
game ; however, he ordered his guards to fly quickly 
to the succor of my lord the Marquis of Carabas. 
While they were pulling the unfortunate marquis out 
of the water the cat came up, bowing, to the side of 
the king’s carriage, and told a long and pitiful story 
about some thieves, who, while his master was bath- 
ing, had come and carried away all his clothes, so that 
it would be impossible for him to appear before his 
majesty and the illustrious princess. 

Oh, we will soon remedy that ! ” answered the king 
kindly ; and immediately ordered one of the first 
officers of the household to ride back to the palace 
with all speed, and bring back the most elegant 
supply of clothes for the young gentleman, who kept 
in the background until they arrived. Then, being 
handsome and well-made, his new clothes became him 
so well that he looked as if he had been a marquis 
all his days, and advanced with an air of respectful 
ease to offer his thanks to his majesty. 

The king received him courteously, and the prin- 
cess admired him very much. Indeed, so charming 
did he appear to her that she hinted to her father to 
invite him into the carriage with them, which, you 
may be sure, the young man did not refuse. The 
cat, delighted at the success of his scheme, went 


240 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


away as fast as lie could, and ran so swiftly that he 
kept a long way ahead of the royal carriage. He 
went on and on, till he came to some peasants who 
were mowing in a meadow. Good people,” said he, 
in a very firm voice, ‘‘ the king is coming past here 
shortly, and if you do not say that the field you are 
mowing belongs to my lord the Marquis of Car abas 
you shall all be chopped as small as mince-meat.” 

So when the king drove by, and asked whose 
meadow it was where there was such a splendid crop 
of hay, the mowers all answered, trembling, that it 
belonged to my lord the Marquis of Carabas. 

“ You have very fine land. Marquis,” said his 
majesty to the miller’s son, who bowed, and answered 
that it was “ not a bad meadow, take it altogether.” 

Then the cat came to a wheat-field, where the 
reapers were reaping with all their might. He 
bounced in upon them : The king is coming past 
to-day, and if you do not tell him that this wheat 
belongs to my lord the Marquis of Carabas I will 
have you every one chopped as small as mince-meat.” 
The reapers, very much alarmed, did as they were 
bid, and the king congratulated the Marquis upon 
possessing such beautiful fields, laden with such an 
abundant harvest. 

They drove on — the cat always running before 
and saying the same thing to everybody he met, that 
they were to declare the whole country belonged to 
his master ; so that even the king was astonished at 
the vast estate of my lord the Marquis of Carabas. 

But now the cat arrived at a great castle where 
dwelt an Ogre, to whom belonged all the land through 
which the royal equipage had been driving. He was 
a cruel tyrant, and his tenants and servants w'ere 
terribly afraid of him, which accounted for their 
being so ready to say whatever they were told to say 


PUSS IN BOOTS. 


241 


by the cat, who had taken pains to inform himself 
all about the Ogre. So, putting on the boldest face 
he could assume. Puss marched up to the castle with 
his boots on, and asked to see the owner of it, saying 
that he was on his travels, but did not wish to pass 
so near the castle of such a noble gentleman without 
paying his respects to him. When the Ogre heard 
this message he went to the door, received the cat as 
civilly as an Ogre can, and begged him to walk in and 
repose himself. 

‘‘ Thank you, sir,” said the cat ; but first I, hope you 
will satisfy a traveller’s curiosity. I have heard in 
far countries of your many remarkable qualities, and 
especially how you have the power to change yourself 
into any sort of beast you choose — a lion, for instance, 
or an elephant.” 

That is quite true,” replied the Ogre ; ‘‘ and lest 
you should doubt it I will immediately become a 
lion.” 

He did so ; and the cat was so frightened that he 
sprang up to the roof of the castle and hid himself 
in the gutter — a proceeding rather inconvenient on 
account of his boots, which were not exactly fitted to 
walk with upon tiles. At length, perceiving that the 
Ogre had resumed his original form, he came down 
again stealthily, and confessed that he had been very 
much frightened. 

But, sir,” said he, it may be easy enough for 
such a big gentleman as you to change himself into 
a large animal ; I do not suppose you can become a 
small one — a rat or mouse, for instance. I have 
heard that you can ; still, for my part, I consider it 
quite impossible.” 

Impossible ? ” cried the other indignantly. You 
shall see ! ” and immediately the cat saw the Ogre no 
longer, but a little mouse running along on the floor. 


242 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


This was exactly what he wanted ; and he did the 
very best a cat conld do, and the most natural under 
the circumstances, — he sprang upon the mouse and 
gobbled it up in a trice. So there was an end of the 
Ogre. 

By this time the king had arrived opposite the 
castle, and was seized with a strong desire to enter it. 
The cat, hearing the noise of the carriage- wheels, ran 
forward in a great hurry, and, standing at the gate, 
said in a loud voice, Welcome, sire, to the castle of 
my lord the Marquis of Carabas.” 

What ! ’’ cried his majesty, very much surprised, 
does the castle also belong to you ? Truly, Marquis, 
you have kept your secret well up to the last minute. 
I have never seen anything finer than this courtyard 
and these battlements. Indeed, I have nothing like 
them in the whole of my dominions ! ” 

The Marquis, without speaking, offered his hand to 
the princess to assist her to descend, and, standing 
aside that the king might enter first, — for he had 
already acquired all the manners of a court, — followed 
his majesty to the great hall, where a magnificent 
collation was laid out, and where, without more delay, 
they all sat down to feast. 

Before the banquet was over the king, charmed 
with the good qualities of the Marquis of Carabas, 
— and likewise with his wine, of which he had 
drunk six or seven cups, — said, bowing across the 
table at which the princess and the miller’s son were 
talking very confidentially together, It rests with 
you. Marquis, whether you will not become my son- 
indaw.” 

I shall be only too happy,” said the complaisant 
Marquis, and the princess’s cast-down eyes declared 
the same. 

So they were married the very next day, and took 


THE WOLF AND SEVEN YOUNG GOSLINGS. 243 


possession of the Ogre’s castle and of everything that 
had belonged to him. 

As for the cat, he became at once a grand per- 
sonage, and had never mOre any need to run after 
mice, except for his own diversion. 


THE WOLF AND SEVEN YOUNG GOSLINGS. 

There was once an old goose who had seven young 
goslings, and loved them as only a mother could love 
her children. One day she was going into the wood 
to seek for provender, and before setting off she called 
all seven to her and said, Dear children, I am obliged 
to go into the wood, so be on your guard against 
the wolf ; for if he gets in here he will eat you up, 
feathers, skin, and all. The villain often disguises 
himself, but you can easily recognize him by his rough 
voice and black paws.” 

The children answered, ‘‘ Dear mother, we will take 
great care; you may go without any anxiety.” So 
the old lady was comforted, and set off cheerfully for 
the wood. 

Before long some one knocked at the door, and 
cried, Open, open, my dear children ; your mother is 
here, and has brought something for each of you.” 

But the goslings soon perceived, by the rough voice, 
that it was the wolf. We will not open,” said they ; 
^^you are not our mother, for she has a sweet and 
lovely voice ; but your voice is rough — you are the 
wolf.” 

Thereupon the wolf set off to a merchant and bought 
a large lump of chalk ; he ate it, and it made his voice 
sweet. Back he came, knocked at the door, and cried, 


244 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Open, open, my dear children ; your mother is here, 
and has brought something for each of you.’’ 

But the wolf had laid his black paw on the window- 
sill, and when the children saw it they cried, We 
will not open ; our mother has not black feet like you 
— you are the wolf.” 

So the wolf ran off to the baker, and said, “ I have 
hurt my foot, put some dough on it.” And when the 
baker had plastered it with dough the wolf went to 
the miller and cried, Strew some meal on my paws.” 
But the miller thought to himself, The wolf wants to 
deceive some one,” and he hesitated to do it ; till the 
wolf said, If you don’t do it at once T will eat you 
up.” So the miller was afraid and made his paws 
white. Such is the way of the world ! 

How came the rogue back for the third time, knocked, 
and said, “ Open the door, dear children ; your mother 
has come home, and has brought something for each 
of you out of the wood.” 

The little goslings cried, “ Show us your paws first, 
that we may see whether you are indeed our mother.” 
So he laid his paws on the window-sill, and when the 
goslings saw that they were white they believed it 
was all right, and opened the door ; and who should 
come in but the wolf ! 

They screamed out and tried to hide themselves : 
one jumped under the table, another into the bed, the 
third into the oven, the fourth ran into the kitchen, 
the fifth hopped into a chest, the sixth under the 
wash-tub, and the seventh got into the clock-case. But 
the wolf seized them, and stood on no ceremony with 
them ; one after another he gobbled them all up, 
except the youngest, who being in the clock-case he 
could n’t find. When the wolf had eaten his fill he 
strolled forth, laid himself down in the green meadow 
under a tree, and went fast asleep. 


THE WOLE AND SEVEN YOUNG GOSLINGS. 245 


Not long after, back came the old goose home from 
the wood ; but what, alas ! did she see ? The house- 
door stood wide open ; table, chairs, benches, were all 
overthrown ; the wash-tub lay in the ashes ; blankets 
and pillows were torn off the bed. She looked for her 
children, but nowhere could she find them ; she called 
them each by name, but nobody answered. At last, 
when she came to the youngest, a little squeaking 
voice answered, Dear mother, I am in the clock- 
case.’’ She pulled him out, and he told her how the 
wolf had come and had eaten up all the others. You 
may think how she wept for her dear children. 

At last, in her grief, she went out, and the youngest 
gosling ran beside her. And when she came to the 
meadow there lay the wolf under the tree, snoring till 
the boughs shook. She walked round and examined 
him on all sides, till she perceived that something was 
moving and kicking about inside him. 

Can it be,” thought she, that my poor children 
whom he has swallowed for his supper are yet alive ? ” 
So she sent the little gosling back to the house for 
scissors, needle, and thread, and began to slit up the 
monster’s stomach. Scarcely had she given one snip 
when out came the head of a gosling, and when she had 
cut a little further the six jumped out one after another, 
not having taken the least hurt, because the greedy 
monster had swallowed them down whole. That was 
n joy ! They embraced their mother tenderly, and 
skipped about as lively as a tailor at his wedding. 

But the old goose said, Now go and find me six 
large stones, which we will put inside the greedy 
beast while he is still asleep.” So the goslings got 
the stones in all haste, and they put them inside the 
wolf; and the old goose sewed him up again in a 
great hurry, while he never once moved nor took 
any notice. 


246 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Now, when the wolf at last woke up and got upon 
his legs he found he was very thirsty, and wished to 
go to the spring to drink. But as soon as he began to 
move the stones began to shake and rattle inside him, 
till he cried : 

‘ '• What ’s this rumbling and tumbling, 

What ’s this rattling like bones ? 

I thought I had eaten six little geese, 

But they ’ve turn’d out only stones.” 

And when he came to the spring and bent down his 
' head to drink the heavy stones overbalanced him, and 
in he went head over heels. Now, when the seven 
goslings saw this they came running up, crying loudly, 
“ The wolf is dead, the wolf is dead ! ” and danced 
for joy all round the spring, and their mother with 
them. 


THE FAIR ONE WITH GOLDEN LOCKS. 

There was once a king’s daughter so beautiful 
that they named her the Fair One with Golden Locks. 
These golden locks were the most remarkable in the 
world, soft and fine, and falling in long waves down 
to her very feet. She wore them always thus, loose 
and flowing, surmounted with a wreath of flowers ; and 
though such long hair was sometimes rather incon- 
venient it was so exceedingly beautiful, shining in the 
sun like ripples of molten gold, that everybody agreed 
she fully deserved her name. 

Now, there was a young king of a neighboring 
country, very handsome, very rich, and wanting 
nothing but a wife to make him happy. He heard so 
much of the various perfections of the Fair One with 
Golden Locks that at last, without even seeing her, 
he fell in love with her so desperately that he could 


THE FAIR ONE WITH GOLDEN LOCKS. 247 


neither eat nor drink, and resolved to send an ambas- 
sador at once to demand her in marriage. So he 
ordered a magnificent equipage — more than a hun- 
dred horses and a hundred footmen — in order to bring 
back to him the Fair One with Golden Locks, who, 
he never doubted, would be only too happy to become 
his queen. Indeed, he felt so sure of her that he re- 
furnished the whole palace, and had made, by all the 
dressmakers of the city, dresses enough to last a lady 
for a lifetime ! But, alas ! Avhen the ambassador arrived 
and delivered his message, either the princess was in a 
bad humor or the offer did not appear to be to her 
taste ; for she returned her best thanks to his majesty, 
but said she had not the slightest wish or intention to 
be married. She also, being a prudent damsel, de- 
clined receiving any of the presents which the king 
had sent her; except that, not quite to offend his 
majesty, she retained a box of English pins, which 
were in that country of considerable value. 

When the ambassador returned, alone and unsuc- 
cessful, all the court was very much affected, and the 
king himself began to weep with all his might. Now, 
there was in the palace household a young gentleman 
named Avenant, beautiful as the sun, besides being at 
once so amiable and so wise that the king confided to 
him all his affairs ; and every one loved him, except 
those people — to be found in all courts — who were 
envious of his good fortune. These malicious folk, 
hearing him say gayly, If the king had sent me to 
fetch the Fair One with Golden Locks I know she 
would have come back with me/’ repeated the saying 
in such a manner that it appeared as if Avenant 
thought so much of himself and his beauty, and felt 
sure the princess would have followed him all over the 
world ; which, when it came to the ears of the king, 
as it was meant to do, irritated him so much that he 


248 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


commanded Avenant to be imprisoned in a high tower, 
and left to die there of hunger. The guards accord- 
ingly carried off the young man, who had quite for- 
gotten his idle speech, and had not the least idea what 
fault he had committed. They ill-treated him very 
much, and then left him, with nothing to eat and only 
water to drink. This, however, kept him alive for a 
few days, during which he did not cease to complain 
aloud, and to call upon the king, saying, ‘‘ 0 king, 
what harm have I done ? You have no subject more 
faithful than I. Never have I had a thought which 
could offend you.” 

And so it befell that the king, coming by chance, or 
else with a sort of remorse, past the tower, was 
touched by the voice of the young Avenant, whom he 
had once so much regarded. In spite of all the 
courtiers could do to prevent him, he stopped to listen, 
and overheard these words. The tears rushed into 
his eyes ; he opened the door of the tower, and called, 
“ Avenant ! ” Avenant came, creeping feebly along, 
fell at the king’s knees, and kissed his feet : 

“ Oh ! sire, what have I done that you should treat 
me so cruelly ? ” 

You have mocked me and my ambassador ; for 
3^ou said if I had sent you to fetch the Fair One with 
Golden Locks you would have been successful and 
brought her back.” 

“ I did say it, and it was true,” replied Avenant 
fearlessly ; for I should have told her so much about 
your majesty and your various high qualities, which 
no one knows so well as myself, that I am persuaded 
she would have returned with me.” 

“ I believe it,” said the king, with an angry look at 
those who had spoken ill of his favorite ; he then gave 
Avenant a free pardon, and took him back with him 
to the court. 


THE FAIR ONE WITH GOLDEN LOCKS. 249 


After having supplied the famished youth with as 
much supper as he could eat, the king admitted him to 
a private audience, and said, I am as much in love 
as ever with the Fair One with Golden Locks, so I 
will take thee at thy word, and send thee to try and 
win her for me.” 

Very well, please your majesty,” replied Avenant 
cheerfully, I will depart to-morrow.” 

The king, overjoyed with his willingness and hope- 
fulness, would have furnished him with a still more 
magnificent equipage and suite than the first ambas- 
sador ; but Avenant refused to take anything except a 
good horse to ride and letters of introduction to the 
princess’s father. The king embraced him, and eagerly 
saw him depart. 

It was on a Monday morning when, without any 
pomp or show, Avenant thus started on his mission. 
He rode slowly and meditatively, pondering over every 
possible means of persuading the Fair One with 
Golden Locks to marry the king ; but even after 
several days’ journey towards her country no clear 
project had entered into his mind. One morning, 
when he had started at break of day, he came to a 
great meadow with a stream running through it, along 
which were planted willows and poplars. It was such 
a pleasant, rippling stream that he dismounted and 
sat down on its banks. There he perceived, gasping 
on the grass, a large golden carp, which, in leaping 
too far after gnats, had thrown itself quite out of the 
water, and now lay dying on the greensward. Ave- 
nant took pity on it, and though he was very hungry 
and the fish was very fat, and he would well enough 
have liked it for his breakfast, still he lifted it gently 
and put it back into the stream. No sooner had the 
carp touched the fresh cold water than it revived and 
swam away ; but shortly returning it spoke to him from 
the water in this wise : 


250 


THE FAIRY BOOR. 


“ Avenant, I thank you for your good deed. I was 
dying, and you have saved me ; I will recompense you 
for this, one day.” 

After this pretty little speech the fish popped down 
to the bottom of the stream, according to the habit of 
carp, leaving Avenant very much astonished, as was 
natural. 

Another day he met with a raven that was in great 
distress, being pursued by an eagle, which would have 
swallowed him up in no time. See,” thought Ave- 
nant, ‘‘ how the stronger oppress the weaker ! What 
right has an eagle to eat up a raven ? ” So taking his 
bow and arrow, which he always carried, he shot the 
eagle dead, and the raven, delighted, perched in safety 
on an opposite tree. 

Avenant,” screeched he, though not in the sweetest 
voice in the world ; you have generously succored 
me, a poor miserable raven. I am not ungrateful, and 
I will recompense you one day.” 

Thank you,” said Avenant, and continued his 
road. 

Entering in a thick wood, so dark with the shadows 
of early morning that he could scarcely find his way, 
he heard an owl hooting, like an owl in great tribula- 
tion. She had been caught by the nets spread by 
birdcatchers to entrap finches, larks, and other small 
birds. What a pity,” thought Avenant, that men 
must always torment poor birds and beasts who have 
done them no harm ! ” So he took out his knife, cut 
the net, and let the owl go free. She went sailing up 
into the air, but immediately returned, hovering over 
his head on her brown wings. 

Avenant,” said she, at daylight the birdcatchers 
would have been here, and I should have been caught 
and killed. I have a grateful heart ; I will recompense 
you, one day.” 


THE FAIR ONE WITH GOLDEN LOCKS. 251 


These were the three principal adventures that befell 
Avenant on his way to the kingdom of the Fair One 
with Golden Locks. Arrived there, he dressed himself 
with the greatest care, in a habit of silver brocade, and 
a hat adorned with plumes of scarlet and white. He 
threw over all a rich mantle, and carried a little basket, 
in which was a lovely little dog, an offering of respect 
to the princess. With this he presented himself at 
the palace gates, where, even though he came alone, 
his mien was so dignified and graceful, so altogether 
charming, that every one did him reverence, and was 
eager to run and tell the Fair One with Golden Locks 
that Avenant, another ambassador from the king her 
suitor, awaited an audience. 

Avenant ? ” repeated the princess ; ^^that is a pretty 
name ; perhaps the youth is pretty, too.” 

So beautiful,” said the ladies of honor, “ that 
while he stood under the palace window we could do 
nothing but look at him.” 

How silly of you ! ” sharply said the princess. 
But she desired them to bring her robe of blue satin, 
to comb out her long hair, and adorn it with the freshest 
garland of fiowers ; to give her her high-heeled shoes, 
and her fan. ‘‘ Also,” added she, take care that my 
audience chamber is well swept and my throne well 
dusted. I wish in everything to appear as becomes 
the Fair One with Golden Locks.” 

This done, she seated herself on her throne of ivory 
and ebony, and gave orders for her musicians to play, 
but softly, so as not to disturb conversation. Thus, 
shining in all her beauty, she admitted Avenant to her 
presence. 

He was so dazzled that at first he could not speak ; 
then he began and delivered his harangue to perfec- 
tion. 

Gentle Avenant,” returned the princess, after 


252 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


listening to all his reasons for her returning with him, 
your arguments are very strong, and I am inclined 
to listen to them ; but you must first find for me a ring, 
which I dropped into the river about a month ago. 
Until I recover it I can listen to no propositions of 
marriage.” 

Avenant, surprised and disturbed, made her a pro- 
found reverence and retired, taking with him the basket 
and the little dog Cabriole, which she refused to accept. 
All night long he sat sighing to himself, “ How can I 
ever find a ring which she dropped into the river a 
month ago ? She has set me an impossibility.” 

“ My dear master,” said Cabriole, nothing is an 
impossibility to one so young and charming as you 
are ; let us go at daybreak to the river-side.” 

Avenant patted him, but replied nothing, until, 
worn out with grief, he slept. Before dawn Cabriole 
wakened him, saying, Master, dress yourself and let 
us go to the river.” 

There Avenant walked up and down, with his* arms 
folded and his head bent, but saw nothing. At last 
he heard a voice, calling from a distance, ‘‘ Avenant, 
Avenant ! ” 

The little dog ran to the water-side. ‘‘Never 
believe me again, master, if it is not a golden carp with 
a ring in its mouth ! ” 

“ Yes, Avenant,” said the carp, “ this is the ring 
which the princess has lost. You saved my life in the 
willow meadow, and I have recompensed vou. Fare- 
well ! ” 

Avenant took the ring gratefully and returned to 
the palace with Cabriole, who scampered about in 
great glee. Craving an audience, he presented the 
princess with her ring, and begged her to accompany 
him to his master’s kingdom. She took the ring, 
looked at it, and thought she was surely dreaming. 


THE FAIR ONE WITH GOLDEN LOCKS. 253 


Some fairy must have assisted you, fortunate 
Avenant/’ said she. 

Madam, I am only fortunate in my desire to obey 
your wishes.” 

“ Obey me still,” she said graciously. There is a 
prince named Galifron, whose suit I have refused. 
He is a giant as tall as a tower, who eats a man as a 
monkey eats a nut ; he puts cannons into his pockets 
instead of pistols ; and when he speaks his voice is so 
loud that every one near him becomes deaf. Go and 
fight him, and bring me his head.” 

Avenant was thunderstruck ; but after a time he 
recovered himself. ^^Yery well, madam. I shall cer- 
tainly perish, but I will perish like a brave man. I 
will depart at once to fight the Giant Galifron.” 

The princess, now in her turn surprised and 
alarmed, tried every persuasion to induce him not to 
go, but in vain. Avenant armed himself and started, 
carrying his little dog in its basket. Cabriole was the 
only creature that gave him consolation : Courage, 
master ! While you attack the giant, I will bite his 
legs ; he will stoop down to strike me, and then you 
can knock him on the head.” Avenant smiled at the 
little dog’s spirit, but he knew it was useless. 

Arrived at the castle of Galifron, he found the 
road all strewn with bones and carcasses of men. Soon 
he saw the giant walking. His head was level with 
the highest trees, and he sang in a terrific voice : 

“ Bring me babies to devour : 

More — more — more — more — 

Men and women, tender and tough, 

All the world holds not enough.” 

To which Avenant replied, imitating the tune : 

“ Avenant you here may see, 

He is come to punish thee ; 

Be he tender, be he tough. 

To kill thee, giant, he is enough.” 


254 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Hearing these words, the giant took up his massive 
club, looked around for the singer, and, perceiving 
him, would have slain him on the spot had not a 
raven, sitting on a tree close by, suddenly flown out 
upon him and picked out both his eyes. Then 
Avenant easily killed him and cut off his head, while 
the raven, watching him, said : 

“You shot the eagle who was pursuing me ; I 
promised to recompense you, and to-day I have done 
it. We are quits.’’ 

“ No, it is I who am your debtor. Sir Raven,” 
replied Avenant, as hanging the frightful head to his 
saddle-bow he mounted his horse and rode back to the 
city of the Fair One with Golden Locks. 

There everybody followed him, shouting, “ Here is 
brave Avenant, who has killed the giant,” until the 
princess, hearing the noise, and fearing it was Avenant 
himself who was killed, appeared, all trembling; and 
even when he appeared with Galifron’s head she trem- 
bled still, although she had nothing to fear. 

“ Madam,” said Avenant, “your enemy is dead ; so 
I trust you will accept the hand of the king my 
master.” 

“ I cannot,” replied she thoughtfully, “ unless you 
first bring me a phial of the water in the Grotto of 
Darkness. It is six leagues in length, and guarded at 
the entrance by two fiery dragons. Within it is a pit 
full of scorpions, lizards, and serpents, and at the 
bottom of this place flows the fountain of Beauty and 
Health. All who wash in it become, if ugly, beautiful ; 
and if beautiful, beautiful forever ; if old, young ; 
and if young, young forever. Judge then, Avenant, 
if I can quit my kingdom without carrying with me 
some of this miraculous water.” 

“Madam,” replied Avenant, “you are already so 
beautiful that you require it not ; but I am an unforh 


THE FAIR ONE WITH GOLDEN LOCKS. 255 

iinate ambassador whose death you desire. I will 
obey you, though I know I shall never return.” 

So he departed with his only friends — his horse 
and his faithful dog Cabriole ; while all who met him 
looked at him compassionately, pitying so pretty a 
youth bound on such a hopeless errand. But, how- 
ever kindly they addressed him, Avenant rode on and 
answered nothing, for he was too sad at heart. 

He reached a mountain-side, where he sat down to 
rest, leaving his horse to graze and Cabriole to run 
after the flies. He knew that the Grotto of Darkness 
was not far off, yet he looked about him like one who 
sees nothing. At last he perceived a rock as black as 
ink, whence came a thick smoke ; and in a moment 
appeared one of the two dragons, breathing out flames. 
It had a yellow and green body, claws, and a long tail. 
When Cabriole saw the monster the poor little dog 
hid himself in terrible fright. But Avenant resolved 
to die bravely ; so taking a phial which the princess 
had given him he prepared to descend into the cave. 

Cabriole,” said he, I shall soon be dead ; then 
fill this phial with my blood, and carry it to the Fair 
One with Golden Locks, and afterwards to the king my 
master, to show him I have been faithful to the last.” 

While he was thus speaking a voice called, Ave- 
nant, Avenant ! ” and he saw an owl sitting on a hol- 
low tree. Said the owl ; You cut the net in which I was 
caught and I vowed to recompense you. How is the time. 
Give me the phial. I know every corner of the Grotto 
of Darkness — I will fetch you the water of beauty.” 

Delighted beyond words, Avenant delivered up his 
phial ; the owl flew with it into the grotto, and in less 
than half an hour reappeared, bringing it quite full 
and well corked. Avenant thanked her with all his 
heart, and joyfully took once more the road to the 
city. 


256 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


The Fair One with Golden Locks had no more to 
say. She consented to accompany him back, with all 
her suite, to his master’s court. On the way thither 
she saw so much of him, and found him so charming, 
that Avenant might have married her himself had he 
chosen ; but he would not have been false to his 
master for all the beauties under the sun. At length 
they arrived at the king’s city, and the Fair One with 
Golden Locks became his spouse and queen. But she 
still loved Avenant in her heart, and often said to the 
king her lord, But for Avenant I should not be 
here ; he has done all sorts of impossible deeds for 
my sake ; he has fetched me the water of beauty, and 
I shall never grow old, — in short, I owe him every- 
thing.” 

And she praised him in this sort so much that at 
length the king became jealous ; and though Avenant 
gave him not the slightest cause of offence he shut 
him up in the same high tower once more — but with 
irons on his hands and feet, and a cruel jailer besides, 
who fed him with bread and water only. His sole 
companion was his little dog Cabriole. 

When the Fair One with Golden Locks heard of 
this she reproached her husband for his ingratitude, 
and then throwing herself at his knees implored that 
Avenant might be set free. But the king only said. 
She loves him ! ” and refused her prayer. The queen 
entreated no more, but fell into a deep melancholy. 

When the king saw it he thought she did not care 
for him because he was not handsome enough ; and that 
if he could wash his face with her water of beauty it 
would make her love him more. He knew that she 
kept it in a cabinet in her chamber, where she could 
find it always. 

Now it happened that a waiting-maid, in cleaning 
out this cabinet, had, the very day before, knocked 


THE FAIR ONE WITH GOLDEN LOCKS. 257 


down the phial, which was broken in a thousand pieces 
and all the contents were lost. Very much alarmed, 
she then remembered seeing, in a cabinet belonging to 
the king, a similar phial. This she fetched, and put 
in the place of the other one in which was the water 
of beauty. But the king’s phial contained the water 
of death. It was a poison used to destroy great 
criminals — that is, noblemen, gentlemen, and such 
like. Instead of hanging them or cutting their heads 
off, like common people, they were compelled to wash 
their faces with this water ; upon which they fell 
asleep and woke no more. So it happened that the 
king, taking up this phial, believing it to be the water 
of beauty, washed his face with it, fell asleep, and — 
died. 

Cabriole heard the news, and, gliding in and out 
among the crowd which clustered round the young and 
lovely widow, whispered softly to her, Madam, do 
not forget poor Avenant.” If she had been disposed 
to do so, the sight of his little dog would have been 
enough to remind her of him — his many sufferings 
and his great fidelity. She rose up, without speaking 
to anybody, and went straight to the tower where 
Avenant was confined. There, with her own hands, 
she struck off his chains, and putting a crown of gold , 
on his head and a purple mantle on his shoulders 
said to him, Be king — and my husband.” 

Avenant could not refuse ; for in his heart he had 
loved her all the time. He threw himscilf at her feet, 
and then took the crown and sceptre, and ruled her 
kingdom like a king. All the people were delighted 
to have him as their sovereign. The marriage was 
celebrated in all imaginable pomp, and Avenant and 
the Fair One with Golden Locks lived and reigned 
happily together all their days. 


258 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


THE BUTTERFLY. 

In the time of the illustrious Merinous it was 
indeed a pleasure to be a king; the laws were just, 
the people obedient, and peace was over the land. 
This monarch would have been the happiest of men 
but for the continual complaints of his consort, which ■ 
tore his very heart in twain. She wept continually , 
for her daughters, nineteen of whom had perished in , 
the flower of youth. The Fairy of the Fountain had 
promised a twentieth; but years passed away in 
fruitless expectation. You have neglected to do the 
fairy sufficient homage,’’ said the king one day; “I 
shall give orders to conduct you to the foot of the ^ 
mountain with pomp and splendor. But when arrived ■ 
there the mountain itself must be climbed on foot, 
with many fatigues ; most women would rather die ; 
childless than encounter them.” 

Courage shall not be wanting on my part,” said 
the queen, and I wish to set out immediately.” 

The king kissed her forehead, bade her good-night, 
and fell asleep. 

At early dawn appeared in the grand court of the 
palace an equipage, dazzling as the sun itself ; the 
wheels were of massy gold, with emerald nails which 
sparkled in the light. It was drawn by forty-two 
horses white as snow, whose reins were of rose- 
colored satin, the fashion of that period. They 
snorted impatiently, striking fire from the pavement 
beneath their feet; their eyes were inflamed; their 
bits covered with foam; and their proud and tri- 
umphant air seemed already to announce the success 
of the queen’s enterprise. Three thousand chevaliers, ■ 
armed at all points and mounted on fiery coursers, 
wheeled about the chariot, the air resounding with 


THE BUTTERFLY. 


259 


their joyful acclamations of — Long live King 
Merinous and his august spouse ! ’’ 

The queen saluted the people with the utmost grace 
and condescension, which caused such immoderate joy 
that she was almost stifled by the pressure of the 
crowd ; but the guards gently kept them at a distance, 
and the procession passed on. 

When her majesty had reached the foot of the 
mountain she alighted from her chariot, and, accom- 
panied by only four maids-of-honor, proceeded on foot. 

This mountain was formed of slippery earth, 
slightly covered over with green turf, but giving way 
at every step. The queen’s pretty little white satin 
shoes were soon left behind ; and her feet next stuck 
so fast that she could not withdraw them; her fair 
hands were in the same plight; she cried aloud for 
succor, fearing she should be completely buried alive. 

Turning then round to look for her maids-of-honor, 
she perceived that they had fallen flat on their faces 
(the impression remains till this day), and were 
struggling, making the most desperate eforts, less in 
consideration of their own danger than that of the 
queen. In fine, after four hours and a half’s patient 
perseverance, they succeeded in regaining their feet ; 
and, strange to say, no mud or clay attached itself to 
their clothes; nothing worse than a slight shade of 
the green turf, which assumed the appearance of a 
gauze veil. The fairy then, seeing the queen willing 
to overcome difficulties, would not try her further, but 
with one stroke of a wand reduced the mountain two 
or three hundred feet ; the remaining height was very 
dry and easy of ascent. 

The queen was thus conducted to a delicious grove. 
A coral fountain rose in the midst ; its waters, of the 
purest rose-color, wound along the meadow, murmur- 
ing plaintive airs, whose words were perfectly distin- 


260 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


guishable. The fairy there welcomed her majesty, 
who prepared to explain the occasion of her journey ; 
but that was quite unnecessary. The fairy, exacting 
profound secrecy, presented her with a phial of water 
drawn from the fountain, strictly ordering that it 
should be broken when she had drank it all. The 
queeji, charmed by this reception, made presents of 
inestimable value, and rejoined her maids-of-honor, 
who had been thrown into an enchanted sleep. They 
then returned to the palace in such high spirits that 
all the court danced and sung for a month afterwards. 

In due course her majesty became, for the twentieth 
time, a joyful mother. 

The magnificence and liberality displayed on this 
occasion exceed belief. The royal palace was sur- 
rounded by three hundred large spouts, which poured 
forth alternately, night and day, the choicest sweet- 
meats, confectionery, and money ; the streets, in fact, 
were filled — the passengers had only to stoop down 
and be satisfied. 

But in the midst of these festivities the Fairy of 
the Fountain, uncovering the little j^rincess’s cradle, 
which was of mother-o’-pearl studded with diamonds, 
perceived a beautiful butterfly, placed immediately 
under the infant’s left eye. 

The chief cradle-rocker, who dreaded being taxed 
with negligence, took a humming-bird’s wing, and 
endeavored to chase it away, but all in vain ; it 
remained quite unconcerned in the same spot, extending 
its large wings of rose-color and azure-blue on the face 
of the princess, appearing rather to caress than to wish 
to do her any injury. Ah,” said the fairy, this 
butterfly is not what you imagine ! It is a powerful 
fairy, who presides at the birth of the most distin- 
guished princesses, and endows them with a degree • 
pf levity which generally leads to misfortune, I can 


THE BUTTERFLY. 


261 


lessen the evil, without doubt, but I cannot entirely 
avert it.” The queen wept bitterly at this sad news, 
and the king saw no person during eight days. He 
then ceased to think on the subject. 

Misfortunes rarely enter into the speculations of 
kings. Masters of the destinies of others, mankind 
flatter them into a belief that their power can almost 
control fate itself. Accordingly, the visit of the 
butterfly did not produce much permanent inquietude. 
The poets-laureate and literati of the court turned it 
into numerous sentimental conceits ; amongst others, 
that the insect had fastened on the princess’s cheek 
mistaking it for a rose. This idea branched out into 
a hundred elegies, a thousand madrigals, and fifteen 
hundred songs, which were sung in all the principal 
families, and adapted to airs, some already known, and 
others composed for the occasion. 

The fairy frequently visited her little charge, but 
was unable to conquer her fickle disposition. Ten dif- 
ferent nurses had already been obliged to give her up ; 
she scratched them, bit them, and obstinately refused 
to be fed. When she grew older, and began her 
education, she was so easily wearied and vexed that 
no one dared to contradict her. The fairy was con- 
sulted, who made her smell at a very rare flower. 
This produced a degree of intelligence so extraor- 
dinary that in three days she could read, write, speak 
all languages, and play on every instrument after just 
twenty-three minutes’ application. 

The queen was now delighted, for the princess’s 
talents were noised abroad equally with her beauty. 
She had scarcely attained the age of fourteen when 
many kings sought the honor of her hand. The good 
King Merinous was well stricken in years, and fondly 
desired to see Papillette established. All who seemed 
worthy of her received a favorable reception, and 


262 


THE EAIRY BOOK. 


amongst this number was the accomplished Prince 
Favorite. After he had been presented in due form, 
the old monarch asked his daughter what she thought 
of their new guest. 

' Sire,’’ replied the maiden, I have been brought 
up with too much modesty and reserve to bestow atten- 
tion on strangers of the other sex.” 

That is true,” returned the monarch ; but merely 
regarding him as a picture, how has he appeared to 
you ? ” 

“ Tall and handsome,” replied Papillette, his 
chestnut hair clinging in close and crisping curls to 
his ivory brow ; his eyes of violet-blue, filled with soft 
vivacity ; his teeth, of the most brilliant white, divide 
lips of coral ; his nose is perfect Grecian, and his 
limbs like the rarest statuary. I might say more, had 
I ventured to look at the prince.” 

It is enough,” said the king ; “ your first glance 
has shown you enough. I am delighted that you are 
so sensible to the merits of Prince Favorite, as I 
design him for your husband. Love him accordingly.” 

Your majesty’s commands are laws to your dutiful 
daughter,” replied Papillette. 

One may easily imagine with what magnificence prep- 
arations were made for the nuptials ; the king hastened 
them, lest his daughter’s fickleness and levity might 
cause disappointment to their dearest hopes. 

Papillette one day, while steadily regarding her 
lover, who was kneeling before her, appeared struck 
by something which made an impression as sudden as 
disagreeable. She repulsed Prince Favorite, saying 
she was seized with a headache, and could not be 
troubled with company. 

The lover submissively arose and went to seek the 
queen, beseeching her to find out what he had done, 
and to intercede in his favor. Her majesty accord- 


1 


THE BUTTERFLY. 


263 


ingly questioned the princess, who, bathed in tears, 
threw herself into the arms of her mother, confessing 
that she had made a discovery which totally altered 
her sentiments regarding the prince. Is it possible,’’ 
added she, that you have not perceived his ears, of 
so unusual a size and a deep red color ? ’’ 

“ Is that all ? ” cried the queen. In truth, I have 
not observed it ; but to take notice of an imperfection 
so very trifling would make us appear ridiculous 
indeed ! ” 

“ People cannot help their feelings,” replied Papil- 
lette ; I have quite a horror of red ears ; it is little 
worth while to be daughter of a great king if one 
must be crossed and thwarted in the most important 
arrangement of life.” 

The queen reasoned long ; but this only increased 
Papillette’s resistance ; therefore, being quite defence- 
less against the tears of a child so dear, her majesty 
promised to speak to the king. 

Merinous was firm in all his resolutions ; he there- 
fore declared that his daughter should become the 
wife of Prince Favorite, whether she liked it or not. 

The queen had not courage to impart this dread- 
ful intelligence ; but she threw herself on the gener- 
osity of the prince, beseeching that he would himself 
break the engagement, thus shielding Papillette from 
the resentment of the king. 

The distracted lover was ready to die with grief ; 
but promised to do all she requested. He asked but 
three days’ grace. 

The queen consented ; and Prince Favorite then 
summoned Queseca, chief barber to the king. Bar- 
ber,” said he, each country has its particular preju- 
dices — its own ideas of beauty ; here I find large 
ears are deemed a deformity ; therefore, I command 
thee to cut off mine.” 


264 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


‘‘ I cannot do it/*’ replied the barber ; your royal 
highness has been grossly deceived. I have the honor 
of shaving the first lords of the court, and I know 
many of them whose ears are equally red and ten 
times as long as those of your royal highness. These 
very lords are amongst the most distinguished favor- 
ites of the king.” 

‘‘ I have summoned thee,” replied the prince, to 
operate and not to prate ; obey my orders, and inflame 
not my ears still further by thy discourse.” 

Alas ! ” said the barber, since your royal high- 
ness means to sacrifice them to an unreasonable 
caprice, what signifies it whether they are inflamed 
or not ? ” 

At these words the prince made a threatening 
gesture ; and Queseca, no longer daring to resist, took 
his razor, and with a trembling hand separated two of 
the handsomest ears from one of the finest heads in 
the world ; for be it known that the princess only 
made a pretext of this assertion, because she had taken 
a fancy for somebody else. 

The wound bled profusely ; the prince applied heal- 
ing balm ; and when in a condition to appear before 
her enclosed his two ears in a little box, rare and 
precious, and presented it to Papillette, his heart once 
more filled with hope and love. 

The princess eagerly opened the beautiful little 
casket, then dashed it with horror to the ground. 

Prince ! ” she cried, “ what can have induced you to 
mutilate yourself so cruelly ? Could you imagine that 
I would ever wed a man who submitted to lose his 
ears ? ” 

Madam,” said the prince, in consternation, “ it 
was by my own order that — ” 

What a fool you were, then ! ” cried Papillette. 

If you are not willing to become the ridicule of the 


THE BUTTERFLY. 


265 


court, I advise you to quit it with the greatest expe- 
dition imaginable.’’ 

The prince dared not call her cruel and ungrateful ; 
he retired to the thickest retreats of a forest, and soon 
after entirely l^st his reason. 

The princess, being once more free, confessed that 
amongst her numerous suitors there was one whom she 
preferred ; this was Prince Malabar, whose martial 
mien announced the soul of a hero. The queen did 
not deny that Malabar had sought her daughter’s 
hand even before Favorite aspired to that honor, 
and King Merinous could now no longer insist on a 
marriage with this unfortunate prince, since he was 
quite insane, ran naked through the woods, sometimes 
, believing himself a hind, sometimes a wolf, and never 
stopping until exhausted by grief and despair. But 
in consenting to the marriage of his daughter with 
Prince Malabar the king declared that, should she 
again change her mind, he would never forgive her. 

The happy day was once more fixed, and Papillette, 
three days preceding, invited her lover to meet her 
in a delightful grove at the extremity of the gardens. 
This grove was planted with myrtles so thick and 
high that they afforded a pleasant shade. Beautiful 
flowers sprang up on all sides ; and, added to the 
warblings of the birds in the trees, were the voices of 
hidden musicians singing a chorus composed by the 
princess herself. This, however, Malabar, who was a 
soldier and not a musician, and who naturally wished 
to have his lady-love’s society all to himself, did not 
sufficiently appreciate. 

Princess,” said he, I had much rather hear you- 
talk than these people sing.” 

Are, then, those cares despised,” replied Papillette, 
which I have so assiduously employed to amuse and 
gratify you by the display of my talents ? ” 


266 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Your dearest talent/’ cried he, is that of pleas- 
ing ; it comprises every other. Send away these 
people, I pray.” He added, in a tone of the utmost 
irritation : I hate — I detest music ! ” 

Have I rightly heard ? ” exclaimed the princess 
angrily ; and do you pretend to love, if your soul is 
insensible to such transporting sounds ? ” 

I wish they would transport themselves far 
enough away,” returned the lover, who like most 
other lovers could be in an ill humor sometimes. 

My princess, do order this scraping and squalling 
to cease.” 

On the contrary, I order my musicians to remain,” 
answered Papillette, quite indignant ; “ and never, 
never will I unite myself to him whom divine melody 
hath no power to move. Go, prince, barbarous alike 
in taste and science, seek some rustic maid best suited 
to your insensibility.” 

The musicians, too far distant to hear these words, 
struck up a lively tune. Malabar imagined this done 
in derision, and it required all his respect for the 
princess to prevent him from falling upon them sword 
in hand. He repented much his words, but considered 
it beneath his dignity to retract them ; the princess 
also refused to retract hers ; so . they parted. 

Malabar resolved on instant death. Mounting the 
noblest courser in his stable, he rode down to the 
seacoast, and plunged him right over a perpendicular 
cliff into the waters below. 

The tide happened to be coming in, so that the body 
was soon washed on shore and brought before the 
eyes of the cruel princess, laid on a litter formed of 
willow, hung with draperies of black crape. 

She was standing at the window when the melan- 
choly procession passed, and inquired what it was. 
None dared answer ; they only removed the covering 


THE BUTTERFLY. 267 

from the face of the corpse. She uttered a loud shriek 
and fainted away. 

The king and queen lavished on her the most 
tender cares, but all in vain ; she declared that she 
regarded herself as an inconsolable widow, and in- 
sisted upon putting on the deepest weeds. 

King Merinous respected this caprice, and ordered 
twenty thousand yards of crape for her use. She 
was just giving orders to have her apartments fes- 
tooned with it, and holding a cambric handkerchief to 
her eyes, when a little green ape (a drawing-room 
favorite) dressed itself in weepers, and disposed one 
of the widow’s caps most tastefully under its chin. 

At this sight the princess burst out laughing so 
loudly and heartily that all the court ladies, who had 
been trying which could pull the longest and most sym- 
pathetic countenance, were greatly relieved, and began 
immediately to smile a little. 

Gradually they removed from her eyes the trap- 
pings of woe, and substituted ribbons of rose-color 
and blue of every shade and variety ; trying on these 
so diverted Papillette’s melancholy that the poor 
drowned prince was soon forgotten. Her tears in- 
deed were vain ; he had already enough of water. 

The king was in despair. Alas ! ” said he to the 
queen, we shall never have the consolation of marry- 
ing Papillette, or beholding our grandchildren. Of two 
monarchs so worthy of her, one has lost his reason, the 
other has cast himself into the sea ; and while we con- 
tinue to weep she, already consoled, thinks only of di- 
verting herself ! ” 

Sire,” replied the queen, ^^calm your apprehen- 
sions. Our daughter is yet too young to feel true love 
in all its fervor ; let us have patience, and seek alliance 
with none but those truly worthy of her affections.” 

“ Such is my wish,” replied the king, and I begin 


268 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


to turn my views upon Prince Patipata ; he has seen 
the portrait of Papillette, and is satisfied ; but, though 
a wise and noble monarch, his personal qualifications 
are little in his favor.’’ 

How so ? ” replied the queen. 

Because he is stiff, tall, and spare ; his eyes bleared 
and filmy ; his hair red, and so scanty, withal, that it 
seems like a few strips of blasted flax hung around a 
distaff.” 

A few days after this conversation Prince Patipata 
arrived at court ; and the queen did not conceal from 
Papillette that, notwithstanding his personal disad- 
vantages, he was intended for her spouse. 

The princess laughed immoderately, yet, just for 
amusement, she displayed towards him all the arts 
and graces of coquetry to perfection. 

Prince Patipata, having been informed of the de- 
plorable end of his predecessors, concealed his love as 
carefully as the others had proclaimed theirs. He 
was so reserved and cold that the princess longed ex- 
ceedingly to discover the state of his feelings. Accord- 
ingly, one day, while Patipata was walking with Sal- 
moe, his intimate confidant, she hid herself in the 
trunk of an old tree, which had been hollowed out by 
lightning, and afforded apparently a secure retreat. 
The prince seated himself at the foot of it, but he had 
observed the princess ; and, making a sign of intelli- 
gence to his companion, feigned to continue a conversa- 
tion of which she was the subject. Assuredly,” said 
he, the princess is very handsome ; but flatterers, poets, 
and painters always overstep the truth. Her portrait 
has deceived me : its large blue eyes bear assuredly 
some resemblance to those of Papillette, but they be- 
speak an ardent and feeling heart, while hers is frivo- 
lous, volatile, and incapable of love. Her smile would 
be charming but for its satirical irony. And what is 


THE BUTTERFLY. 269 

the value of the loveliest lips in the world, if they open 
bnt to deceive and betray ! ” 

I am much surprised,” replied Salmoe ; I believed 
that your royal highness was equally loving and be- 
loved.” 

Far from it,” returned Patipata ; ‘‘ it would ill 
become me, plain as I am, to be confident of pleasing ; 
and I am not dupe enough to yield my heart without 
return. Do not you approve of this ? ” 

No,” answered Salmoe, your royal highness is too 
modest ; I cannot sufficiently appreciate your humility.” 

The prince affected to be dissatisfied with this 
praise, and then moved onwards in order to liberate 
Papillette, who was very inconveniently cramped, and 
almost suffocated with anger. Disagreeable truths 
seldom reach the ear of princesses ; her resentment, 
therefore, was to be expected. Meanwhile, her heart 
being equally capricious as her understanding, she felt 
ready to pardon, and even, on reflection, to justify 
Patipata. But pride soon combated this weakness, 
and she determined to send him away. She complained 
to her father ; assured him that by mere chance she 
had heard the most odious calumnies uttered by a 
prince who sported with their dignity, by falsely pre- 
tending to the hand of her whom he slighted and 
despised. The king was surprised ; but, not having 
entered into any positive engagements with Patipata, 
he readily entered into her feelings, and intimated to 
the prince that his adieus would be well received. 
This Patipata expected ; but, although not naturally 
presumptuous, he had read sufficiently into the heart 
of Papillette to feel some degree of consolation. 

As no decisive explanation of any kind occurred, 
he was permitted to take leave of the princess. This 
lie did with much firmness, while she appeared so 
much agitated that it was remarked by all the court. 


270 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


The men attributed this to hatred ; but the ladies, 
who knew better, pronounced it love. They were 
convinced of the fact when day by day she began to 
pine and refused to eat ; and had not the chief cook 
every day invented some new ragout, she would 
inevitably have died of hunger. 

The queen was in despair, and despatched a billet 
to the Fairy of the Fountain, fastening it to the tail 
of a little white mouse, which served as a messenger 
on this occasion ; it was perfectly acquainted with 
the way, and in a few minutes the fairy arrived at 
the palace. The late events were mentioned to her, 
and the melancholy situation of the princess. 

I understand this case,” said the fairy ; but it 
is necessary that Papillette should give me her 
confidence.” 

The fairy was so amiable and so much beloved by 
the princess that she easily yielded; and, casting 
down her eyes, confessed that she loved one who 
regarded her with contemptuous indifference ; and 
what rendered her choice still more degrading was, 
its object being equally ugly as insensible. 

I am then to understand,” replied the fairy, that 
you wish to be cured of this unfortunate passion? ” 

Alas, no ! ” rejoined Papillette, for my only 
pleasure is in thinking of him, speaking to him as if 
he could hear, and persuading myself that, notwith- 
standing appearances, he could have loved me, had 
he believed my heart capable of steady affections. I 
shall therefore die, leaving him alike ignorant of my 
regrets and my repentance.” 

“I would not advise you to die,” said the fairy; 
‘‘ that is the only evil in the world without a remedy. 
But, my dear Papillette, what can I do to console 
you ? ” 

Let me see the prince once more, under some 


THE BUTTERFLY. 


271 


metamorphose in which it is impossible for him to 
recognize me.’’ 

Very well/’ replied the fairy. But since you 
wish to risk it, and since a simple butterfly can scarcely 
comprcmise her dignity in following a king, under 
this form I shall transport you to his court.” 

So saying, the Fairy of the Fountain placed on her 
huger a little emerald ring, and the princess distinctly 
felt her arms change their shape, expand, become 
flexible, and form two light wings, clothed in the most 
brilliant colors. Her little feet quitted the earth, 
and as the window was open, she flew out, traversing 
the air with a degree of rapidity which at first caused 
some sensations of fear. But soon the eager desire of 
seeing Patipata urged her forward, although natural 
instinct so far prevailed as to cause frequent descents 
to earth, where she rested on every tempting flower. 

At length entering the prince’s gardens, she beheld 
him walking on a terrace watering a beautiful orange- 
tree. Her heart beat so violently that her first emo- 
tion was to hide, but, soon recovering self-possession, 
she flew forwards and rested on a branch which he 
had just gathered. 

What a charming butterfly ! ” observed the king 
to his chief gardener. Its colors are truly ex- 
quisite ; I never recollect having seen any such 
before.” 

Some new species, come to do mischief, I sup- 
pose,” said the gardener, preparing to brush it rudely 
away. But it took refuge on the bosom of the king, 
with such caressing and tender familiarity that only 
a hard heart could have done it injury. 

Ah, little traitor ! ” cried Patipata, thou wishest 
to win me by thy fleeting charms, and then escape 
forever. I already know too well the pain of loving 
fickle beings such as thou. Yet still I must defend 


272 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


thee, and permit thy return to iny orange-tree as often 
as thou desirest.” 

Papillette easily penetrated the thoughts of the 
prince, and although they uttered a reproach for her 
inconstancy, she fancied they also breathed the 
language of love ; and returned in better spirits than 
usual to her father’s palace, where her absence had 
been unobserved. From thenceforward she never 
omitted making use of the emerald ring, which trans- 
ported her in a few moments to her royal lover ; she 
followed him to his palace, saw him give audiences, 
preside in council, and everywhere prove himself just, 
great, generous, and worthy of all her affection. It is 
true that his eyes were still filmy, his body spare, and 
his hair as red as ever ; but what signifies an outside 
casket when containing a priceless jewel within ? 

Patipata was determined against marriage ; he 
therefore adopted as heir to the crown the son of a 
cousin, a young orphan, whom he purposed bringing 
up beneath his own eye. This prince little resembled 
his uncle ; he had been much spoiled ill infancy, and 
it was impossible to improve him. One day, while 
conversing with Patipata, Sire,” said he, I have a 
favor to ask your majesty, and I pray you not to refuse 
me.” 

I shall willingly grant you anything reasonable,” 
replied the king. 

It is but your beautiful rose-colored butterfly, 
which follows you everywhere.” 

And if I were to give it to you, what then ? ” 

I would run this golden pin through its body, and 
stick it to a branch of the orange-tree, to see how long 
it would live. Oh, nothing could be more amusing ! ” 

“Nothing could be more barbarous!” answered 
Patipata indignantly. “ Go, you inspire me with 
horror ; I banish you from my presence during three 


THE BUTTERFLY. 


273 


entire days and remember that if my butterfly should 
receive any injury, you shall be punished with unex- 
ampled severity ! ’’ 

The poor butterfly, who had heard this discourse, 
knew not how to express its gratitude and joy ; it 
flapped its wings and sported around its benefactor. 
The king held out his finger, and it rested there. 
“ Thou shalt quit me no more,’’ said he. “ It is so 
sweet to be loved, even by a butterfly, that I would 
not willingly prove myself ungrateful ; thou shalt feed 
at my table ; I will serve thee with the finest fruits, 
the fairest flowers. Ah ! if I can only make thee 
happy ! ” 

On the following day Patipata went out hunting. 
In vain Papillette sought him in the park, in the 
garden, and near the favorite orange-tree. But his 
nephew, taking advantage of his absence, began chas- 
ing the pretty butterfly. The courtiers knew that he 
would one day be in power, and, eager to gratify his 
whims, assisted in the wanton sport; ministers the 
most pompous, members of council the most profound, 
climbed on trees and capered through the meadows — 
one would have supposed them mad. But the royal 
insect, so familiar with the king, was for all others the 
most capricious of butterflies. It amused itself in 
leading the court a long chase, and at length rested 
in the private cabinet of the king, where they never 
once thought of seeking it. 

Papillette, now all alone, could not resist the opi^or- 
tunity afforded of looking over a great quantity of 
writing which lay on the bureau. What was her sur- 
prise and joy on there finding verses, the most passion- 
ate and tender, which Patipata had written in her 
praise ! They indeed revealed that he was proud, and 
would not risk a second refusal ; but they vowed to 
remain faithful to her, and never to wed another. 


274 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


The princess was so affected that two little tiny 
tears stood in her butterfly eyes. AVell indeed she 
might shed them, for at this moment the wicked little 
prince, her enemy, came behind, and, seizing her by 
her two lovely wings, popped her into his hat. 

Now I have you ! ” cried he ; and it is impossible 
to say what would have happened, had not the king 
opportunely returned ; when, in taking off his hat to 
his uncle, he let the butterfly go. 

She, recovering from her fright, testified affection 
by many little endearments ; and Patipata, now ac- 
customed to speak to her, exclaimed : Beautiful 

insect, how happy art thou ! Thou wanderest from 
flower to flower, without giving the preference to any 
— thou knowest not love — thou hast not found in- 
gratitude ! I, a king, cannot boast of such happiness. 
I adore the lovely Princess Papillette, and am dis- 
missed from her court. I am ugly, it is true ; but 
were I ever so handsome I should not be more fortu- 
nate, for I too well know her fickle — ” 

The butterfly here sighed so deeply that the king 
started. 

Is it possible thou canst feel ? ’’ said he. Oh, if 
my princess had but as much sensibility, I would 
know no other care ! With her I would live in a 
hut, far, far from the deceitful splendor of a 
throne ! 

The Princess Papillette would willingly accom- 
pany you,” said a little voice, in tones of the finest 
and purest melody, and the butterfly’s rosy wings 
blushed deep as crimson. 

What a prodigy ! ” cried Patipata. Ah ! but- 
terfly, what dost thou know of my Papillette ? ” 

“ Suppose it were herself ! ” said a voice, which 
seemed to proceed from a little fountain of rock crys- 
tal which stood between the windows. 


THE FROG-PRINCE. 


275 


The prince turned round, but instead of the butter- 
fly he beheld the Tairy of the Fountain, holding the 
fair Papillette by the hand. They were both en- 
circled by a light rose-colored cloud, which shed a 
softly brilliant light around the apartment. 

Patipata bent one knee to the earth, and kissed the 
hem of the princess’s garment. 

Come, prince,” said the fairy, King Merinous is 
apprised of what passes here. Papillette has over- 
come her evil destiny. Her affections are fixed and 
sure, and their object is yourself. And however 
ready you may both be to live in a hut together, I 
advise you not to do it. Love is sweeter than roy- 
alty, no doubt, but it is not impossible to unite both.” 

The lovers, transported with joy, placed their feet 
on the rose-colored cloud, which instantly carried 
them to the palace of the king. The Fairy of the 
Fountain, to complete her benefactions, rendered 
Patipata as handsome as he was amiable, and the 
nuptials were celebrated with suitable pomp and fes- 
tivity. We are informed that Papillette had, at first, 
some slight returns of her natural disposition ; but in 
one year she became a mother, and from thencefor- 
ward never knew frivolity more. 


THE FKOG-PEIKCE. 

In times of yore, when wishes were both heard and 
granted, lived a king whose daughters were all beauti- 
ful, but the youngest was so lovely that the sun him- 
self, who has seen so much, wondered at her beauty 
every time he looked in her face. Now, near the king’s 
castle was a large dark forest ; and in the forest, under 
an old linden-tree, was a deep well. When the day 


276 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


was very hot, the king’s daughter used to go to the 
wood and seat herself at the edge of the cool well ; and 
when she became wearied she would take a golden ball, 
throw it up in the air, and catch it again. This was 
her favorite amusement. Once it hapi3ened that her 
golden ball, instead of falling back into the little hand 
that she stretched out for it, dropped on the ground 
and immediately rolled away into the water. The 
king’s daughter followed it with her eyes, but the ball 
had vanished, and the well was so deep that no one 
could see down to the bottom. Then she began to 
weep, wept louder and louder every minute, and could 
not console herself at all. 

While she was thus lamenting some one called to her : 

What is the matter with you, king’s daughter ? You 
weep so that you would touch the heart of a stone.” 

She looked around to see whence the voice came, and 
saw a frog stretching his thick ugly head out of the 
water. 

Ah ! it is you, old water-paddler ! ” said she. I 
am crying for my golden ball, which has fallen into 
the well.” 

Be content,” answered the frog ; I dare say I can 
give you some good advice ; but what will you give me 
if I bring back your plaything to you ? ” 

Whatever you like, dear frog,” said she ; my 
clothes, my pearls and jewels, even the golden crown 
I wear.” 

The frog answered, Your clothes, your pearls and 
jewels, even your golden crown, I do not care for ; but 
if you will love me and let me be your companion and 
playfellow, sit near you at your little table, eat from 
your little golden plate, drink from your little cup, and 
sleep in your little bed, — if you will promise me this, 
then I will bring you back your golden ball from the 
bottom of the well.” 


THE FROG-PRINCE. 277 

Oh, yes ! said she > I promise you everything, 
if you will only bring me back my golden ball.” 

She thought to herself meanwhile : What nonsense 
the silly frog talks ! He sits on the water with the 
other frogs, and croaks, and cannot be anybody’s 
playfellow ! ” 

But the frog, as soon as he had received the promise, 
dipped his head under the water and sank down. In 
a little while up he came again with the ball in his 
mouth, and threw it on the grass. The king’s daughter 
was overjoyed when she beheld her pretty plaything 
again, picked it up, and ran away with it. 

‘‘ Wait ! wait ! ” cried the frog ; take me with you. 
I cannot run as fast as you.” 

Alas ! of what use was it that he croaked after her 
as loud as he could. She would not listen to him, but 
hastened home, and soon forgot the poor frog, who was 
obliged to plunge again to the bottom of his well. 

The next day, when she was sitting at dinner with 
the king and all the courtiers, eating from her little 
gold plate, there came a sound of something creeping 
up the marble staircase — splish, splash ; and when it 
had reached the top, it knocked at the door and cried. 
Youngest king’s daughter, open to me.” 

She ran, wishing to see who was outside ; but when 
she opened the door, and there sat the frog, she flung 
it hastily to again, and sat down at table, feeling very, 
very uncomfortable. The king saw that her heart was 
beating violently, and said, ‘‘ How, my child ! Why 
are you afraid ? Is a giant standing outside the door 
to carry you off ? ” 

Oh, no ! ” answered she, “ it is no giant, but a 
nasty frog, who yesterday, when I was playing in the 
wood near the well, fetched my golden ball out of 
the water. For this I promised him he should be 
my companion, but I never thought he could come 


278 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


out of his well. Now he is at the door, and wants to 
come in.’’ 

Again, the second time, there was a knock, and a 
voice cried : 

“ Youngest king’s daughter, 

Open to me ; 

Know you what yesterday 
You promised me, 

By the cool water ? 

Youngest king’s daughter. 

Open to me.” 

Then said the king, “ What you promised you must 
perform. Go and open the door.” 

She went and opened the door ; the frog hopped in, 
always following and following her till he came up to 
her chair. There he sat, and cried out, Lift me up 
to you on the table.” 

She refused till the king, her father, commanded 
her to do it. When the frog was on the table he said. 

Now push your little golden plate nearer to me, that 
we may eat together.” She did as he desired, but one 
could easily see that she did it unwillingly. The frog 
seemed to enjoy his dinner very much, but every mor- 
sel she ate stuck in the throat of the poor little prin- 
cess. 

Then said the frog, I have eaten enough, and am 
tired ; carry me to your little room, and make your 
little silken bed smooth, and we will lay ourselves 
down to sleep together.” 

At this the daughter of the king began to weep ; 
for she was afraid of the cold frog, who wanted to 
sleep in her pretty clean bed. 

But the king looked angrily at her, and said again. 

What you have promised you must perform. The 
frog is your companion.” 

It was no use to complain, whether she liked it or 


THE FROG-PRINCE. 


279 


not ; she was obliged to take the frog with her up to 
her little bed. So she picked him up with her two 
fingers, hating him bitterly the while, and carried him 
upstairs ; but when she got into bed, instead of lifting 
him up to her, she threw him with all her strength 
against the wall, saying, Now, you nasty frog, there 
will be an end of youd’ 

But what fell down from the wall was not a dead 
frog, but a living young prince, with beautiful and 
loving eyes, who at once became, by her own promise 
and her father’s will, her dear companion and husband. 
He told her how he had been cursed by a wicked sor- 
ceress, and that no one but the king’s youngest daughter 
could release him from his enchantment and take him 
out of the well. 

The next day a carriage drove up to the palace 
gates with eight white horses, having white feathers 
on their heads, and golden reins. Behind it stood the 
servant of the young prince, called the faithful Henry. 
This faithful Henry had been so grieved when his 
master was changed into a frog that he had been com- 
pelled to have three iron bands fastened round his 
heart, lest it should break. Now the carriage came to 
convey the prince to his, kingdom, so the faithful 
Henry lifted in the bride and bridegroom, and mounted 
behind, full of joy at his lord’s release. But when 
they had gone a short distance, the prince heard 
behind him a noise as if something was breaking. He 
turned round and cried out, Henry, the carriage is 
breaking ! ” 

But Henry replied : “No, sir, it is not the carriage, 
but one of the bands from my heart, with which I was 
forced to bind it up, or it would have broken with 
grief while you sat as a frog at the bottom of the 
well.” 

Twice again this happened, and the prince always 


280 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


thought the carriage was breaking; but it was only 
the bands breaking off from the heart of the faithful 
Henry, out of joy that his lord the Frog-Prince was a 
frog no more. 


THE WHITE CAT. 

There was once a king who had three sons, all 
handsome, brave, and noble of heart. Nevertheless, 
some wicked courtiers made their father believe they 
were eager to wear his crown, which, though he was 
old, he had no mind to resign. He therefore invented 
a plan to get them out of the kingdom, and prevent 
their carrying out an}^ undutiful projects. Sending 
for them to a private audience, he conversed with 
them kindly, and said : “ You must be sensible, my 
dear children, that my great age prevents me from 
attending so closely as I have hitherto done to state 
affairs. I fear this may be injurious to my subjects ; 
I therefore desire to place my crown on the head of 
one of you ; but it is no more than just that, in return 
for such a present, you should procure me some 
amusement in my retirement, before I leave the capi- 
tal forever. I cannot help thinking that a little dog, 
handsome, faithful, and engaging, would be the very 
thing to make me happy ; so that, without bestowing 
a preference on either of you, I declare that he who 
brings me the most perfect little dog shall be my 
successor.” 

The princes were much surprised at the fancy of 
their father to have a little dog, yet they accepted the 
proposition with pleasure ; and accordingly, after- 
taking leave of the king, who presented them Avith 
abundance of money and jewels, and appointed that 
day tAvelvemonth for their return, they set off on their 
travels. 


THE WHITE CAT. 


281 


Before separating, however, they took some refresh- 
ment together, in an old palace about three miles out 
of town, where they mutually agreed to meet in the 
same place on that day twelvemonth, and go all 
together with their presents to court. They also 
agreed to change their names and travel incognito. 

Each took a different road ; but it is intended to 
relate the adventures of only the youngest, who was 
the most beautiful, amiable, and accomplished prince 
in the world. As he travelled from town to town, he 
bought all the handsome dogs that fell in his way ; 
and as soon as he saw one that was handsomer than 
those he had, he made a present of the rest ; for twenty 
servants would scarcely have been sufficient to take 
care of all the dogs he was continually purchasing. 
At length, wandering he knew not whither, he found 
himself in a forest ; night suddenly came on, and with 
it a violent storm of thunder, lightning, and rain ; to 
add to his perplexity, he lost his way. After he had 
groped about for a long time, he perceived a light, 
which made him suppose that he was not far from 
some house ; he accordingly pursued his way towards 
it, and in a short time found himself at the gates of 
the most magnificent palace he had ever beheld. The 
entrance door was of gold, covered with sapphires, 
which shone so that scarcely could the strongest eye- 
sight bear to look at it ; this was the light the prince 
liad seen from the forest. The walls were of trans- 
parent porcelain, variously colored, and represented 
the history of all the fairies that had existed from the 
beginning of the world. The prince, coming back to 
the golden door, observed a deer’s foot fastened to a 
chain of diamonds. He could not help wondering at the 
magnificence he beheld, and the security in which the 
inhabitants seemed to live. For,” said he to himself, 
nothing could be easier than for thieves to steal this 


282 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


chain and as many of the sapphire stones as would 
make their fortunes.’^ He pulled the chain, and heard 
a bell, the sound of which was exquisite. In a few 
moments the door w as opened ; yet he perceived 
nothing but twelve hands in the air, each holding a 
torch. The prince was so astonished that he durst not 
move a step — when he felt himself gently pushed on 
by some other hands from behind him. He walked 
on, in great perplexity, till he entered a vestibule 
inlaid with porphyry and lapis-stone, where the most 
melodious voice he had ever heard chanted the follow- 
ing words : 

“Welcome, prince, no danger fear, 

Mirth and love attend you here ; 

You shall break the magic spell 
That on a beauteous lady fell. 

“Welcome, prince, no danger fear, 

Mirth and love attend you here.” 

The prince now advanced with confidence, wonder- 
ing what these words could mean ; the hands moved 
him forward towards a large door of coral, which 
opened of itself to give him admittance into a splendid 
apartment built of mother-o’-pearl, through which he 
passed into others, so richly adorned with paint- 
ings and jewels, and so resplendently lighted with 
thousands of lamps, girandoles, and lustres, that he 
imagined he must be in an enchanted palace. When 
he had passed through sixty apartments, all equally 
splendid, he was stopped by the hands, and a large 
easy-chair advanced of itself towards the fireplace ; 
then the hands, which he observed were extremely 
white and delicate, took off his wet clothes, and sup- 
plied their place with the finest linen imaginable, 
adding a comfortable wrapping-gown, embroidered 
with gold and pearls. 


THE WHITE CAT. 


283 


The hands next brought him an elegant dressing- 
table, and combed his hair so very gently that he 
scarcely felt their touch. They held before him a 
beautiful basin, filled with perfumes, for him to wash 
his face and hands, and afterwards took off the wrap- 
ping-gown and dressed him in a suit of clothes of still 
greater splendor. When his toilet was complete, they 
conducted him to an apartment he had not yet seen, 
and which also was magnificently furnished. There 
was a table spread for supper, and everything upon it 
was of the purest gold adorned with jewels. The 
prince observed there were two covers set, and was 
wondering who was to be his companion, when his 
attention was suddenly caught by a small figure not a 
foot high, which just then entered the room and ad- 
vanced towards him. It had on a long black veil, and 
was supported by two cats dressed in mourning and 
with swords by their sides ; they were followed by a 
numerous retinue of cats, some carrying cages full of 
rats, and others mouse-traps full of mice. 

The prince was at a loss what to think. The little 
figure now approached, and, throwing aside her veil, 
he beheld a most beautiful white cat ; she seemed 
young and melancholy ; and, addressing herself to 
him, she said, My prince, you are welcome ; your 
presence affords me the greatest pleasure.’^ 

Madam,’’ replied he, I would fain thank you for 
your generosity, nor can I help observing that you 
must be an extraordinary creature to possess, with 
your present form, the gift of speech and the most 
magnificent palace I have ever seen.” 

All this is very true,” answered the beautiful cat ; 
“ but, prince, I am not fond of talking, and least of 
all do I like compliments ; let us therefore sit down 
to supper.” 

The trunkless hands then placed the dishes on the 


284 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


table, and the prince and white cat seated themselves 
at it. The first dish was a pie made of young pigeons, 
and the next was a fricassee of the fattest mice. The 
view of the one made the prince almost afraid to taste 
the other, till the white cat, who guessed his thoughts, 
assured him that there were certain dishes at table 
which had been dressed on purpose for him, in which 
there was not a morsel of either rat or mouse ; accord- 
ingly, he ate heartily of such as she recommended. 
When supper was over, he perceived that the white cat 
had a portrait set in gold hanging to one of her feet. 
He begged her permission to look at it ; when, to his 
astonishment, he saw the portrait of a handsome young 
man, who exactly resembled himself ! He thought 
there was something most extraordinary in all this ; 
yet, as the white cat sighed and looked very sorrowful, 
he did not venture to ask any questions. He conversed 
with her on different subjects, and found her ex- 
tremely well versed in everything that was passing in 
the world. When night was far advanced, his hostess 
wished him a good night, and he was conducted by 
the hands to his bedchamber, which was different still 
from anything he had seen in the palace, being hung 
with the wings of butterflies mixed with the most 
curious feathers. His bed was of gauze, festooned 
with bunches of the gayest ribbons, and the looking- 
glasses reached from the floor to the ceiling. The 
prince was undressed and put into bed by the hands, 
without speaking a word. He, however, slept little, 
and in the morning was awaked by a confused noise. 
The hands took him out of bed, and put on him a 
handsome hunting-jacket. He looked into the court- 
yard, and perceived more than five hundred cats 
busily employed in preparing for the field — for this 
was a day of festival. Presently the white cat came 
to his apartment, and, having politely inquired after 


THE WHITE CAT. 


285 


his health, she invited him to partake of their amuse- 
ment. The prince willingly acceded, and mounted a 
wooden horse, richly caparisoned, which had been pre- 
pared for him, and which he was assured would gallop 
to admiration. The beautiful white cat mounted a 
monkey. She wore a dragoon’s cap, which made her 
look so fierce that all the rats and mice ran away in 
the utmost terror. 

Everything being ready, the horns sounded, and 
away they went ; no hunting was ever more agreeable. 
The cats ran faster than the hares and rabbits ; and 
when they caught any, they turned them out to be 
hunted in the presence of the white cat, and a thou- 
sand cunning tricks were played. Nor were the birds 
in safety ; for the monkey made nothing of climbing 
up the trees, with the white cat on his back, to the 
nests of the young eagles. When the chase was over, 
the whole retinue returned to the palace ; the white 
cat immediately exchanged her dragoon’s cap for the 
veil, and sat down to supper with the prince, who, 
being very hungry, ate heartily, and afterwards par- 
took with her of the most delicious wines. He then 
was conducted to his chamber as before, and wakened 
in the morning to renew the same sort of life, which 
day after day became so pleasant to him that he no 
longer thought of anything but of pleasing the sweet 
little creature who received him so courteously; ac- 
cordingly, every day was spent in new amusements. 
The prince had almost forgotten his country and rela- 
tions, and sometimes even regretted that he was not 
a cat, so great was his affection for his mewing com- 
panions. 

Alas ! ” said he to the white cat, how will it 
afflict me to leave you, whom I love so much ! Either 
make yourself a lady or make me a cat.” She smiled 
at the prince’s wish, but offered no reply. 


286 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


At length the twelvemonth was nearly expired ; the 
white cat, who knew the very day when the prince was 
to reach his father’s palace, reminded him that he had 
but three days longer to look for a perfect little dog. 
The prince, astonished at his own forgetfulness, began 
to afflict himself ; when the cat told him not to be so 
sorrowful, since she would not only provide him with 
a little dog, but also with a wooden horse, which 
should convey him safely home in less than twelve 
hours. 

Look here,” said she, showing him an acorn ; 

this contains what you desire.” 

The prince put the acorn to his ear, and heard the 
barking of a little dog. Transported with joy, he 
thanked the cat a thousand times ; and the next day, 
bidding her tenderly adieu, he set out on his return. 

The prince arrived first at the place of rendezvous, 
and was soon joined by his brothers ; they mutually 
embraced, and began to give an account of their 
success ; when the youngest showed them only a little 
mongrel cur, telling them that he thought it could not 
fail to please the king, from its extraordinary beauty. 
The brothers trod on each other’s toes under the table, 
as much as to say, We have little to fear from this 
sorry -looking animal.” The next day they went 
together to the palace. The dogs of the two elder 
brothers were lying on cushions, and so curiously 
wrapped around with embroidered quilts that one 
would scarcely venture to touch them. The youngest 
produced his cur, and all wondered how the prince 
could hope to receive a crown for such a shabby pres- 
ent. The king examined the two little dogs of the 
elder princes, and declared he thought them so equally 
beautiful that he knew not to which, with justice, he 
could give the preference. They accordingly began 
to dispute 5 when the youngest prince, taking his acorn 


THE WHITE CAT. 


28T 


from his iiocket, soon ended their contention; for a 
little dog appeared, which could with ease go through 
the smallest ring, and was besides a miracle of beauty. 
The king could not possibly hesitate in declaring his 
satisfaction ; yet, as he was not more inclined than 
the year before to part with his crown, he told his 
sons that he was extremely obliged to them for the 
pains they had taken ; and since they had succeeded 
so well, he wished they would make a second attempt ; 
he therefore begged they would take another year in 
order to procure a piece of cambric fine enough to be 
drawn through the eye of a small needle. 

The three princes thought this very hard ; yet they 
set out, in obedience to the king’s command. The 
two eldest took different roads, and the youngest 
remounted his wooden horse, and in a short time 
arrived at the palace of his beloved white cat, who 
received him with the greatest joy, while the trunkless 
hands helped him to dismount, and provided him with 
immediate refreshment. Afterwards the prince gave 
the white cat an account of the admiration which 
had been bestowed on the beautiful little dog, and 
informed her of the further injunction of his father. 

Make yourself perfectly easy, dear prince,” said 
she ; I have in my palace some cats who are perfect 
adepts in making such cambric as the king requires ; 
so you have nothing to do but to give me the pleasure 
of your company while it is making, and I will pro- 
cure you all the amusement possible.” 

She accordingly ordered the most curious fireworks 
to be played off in sight of the window of the apart- 
ment in which they were sitting ; and nothing but 
festivity and rejoicing was heard throughout the 
palace for the prince’s return. As the white cat fre- 
quently gave proofs of an excellent understanding, the 
prince was by no means tired of her company ; she 


288 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


talked with him of state affairs, of theatres, of fash- 
ions ; in short, she was at a loss on no subject what- 
ever ; so that when the prince was alone, he had 
plenty of amusement in thinking how it could pos- 
sibly be that a small white cat could be endowed 
with all the attractions of the very best and most 
charming of women. 

The twelvemonth in this manner again passed in- 
sensibly away ; but the cat took care to remind the 
prince of his duty in proper time. For once, my 
prince,’’ said she, I will have the pleasure of equip- 
ping you as suits your high rank.” And, looking 
into the courtyard, he saw a superb car, ornamented 
all over with gold, silver, pearls, and diamonds, drawn 
by twelve horses as white as snow, and harnessed in 
the most sumptuous trappings ; and behind the car a 
thousand guards, richly apparelled, were waiting to 
attend on the prince’s person. She then presented him 
with a nut : You will find in it,” said she, the 
piece of cambric I promised you. Do not break the 
shell till you are in the presence of the king your 
father.” Then, to prevent the acknowledgments 
which the prince was about to offer, she hastily bade 
him adieu. 

Nothing could exceed the speed with which the 
snow-white horses conveyed this fortunate prince to 
his father’s palace, where his brothers had just ar- 
rived before him. They embraced each other, and 
demanded an immediate audience of the king, who 
received them with the greatest of kindness. The 
princes hastened to place at the feet of his majesty 
the curious present he had required them to procure. 
The eldest produced a piece of cambric so extremely 
fine' that his friends had no doubt of its passing 
through the eye of the needle, which was now delivered 
to the king, having been kept locked up in the custody 


THE WHITE CAT. 


289 


of his majesty’s treasurer all the ti^ne. But when the 
king tried to draw the cambric through the eye of the 
needle, it would not pass, though it failed but very 
little. Then came the second prince, who made as 
sure of obtaining the crown as his brother had done, 
but, alas ! with no better success ; for though his 
piece of cambric was exquisitely fine, yet it could not 
be drawn through the eye of the needle. It was now 
the turn of the youngest prince, who accordingly ad- 
vanced and, opening an elegant little box inlaid with 
jewels, took out a walnut and cracked the shell, imag- 
ining he should immediately perceive his piece of 
cambric ; but what Avas his astonishment to see noth- 
ing but a filbert ! He did not, however, lose his 
hopes ; he cracked the filbert, and it presented him 
with a cherry-stone. The lords of the court, who had 
assembled to witness, this extraordinary trial, could 
not, any more than the princes his brothers, refrain 
from laughing, to think he should be so silly as to 
claim the croAvn on no better pretensions. Th(' 
l^rince, however, cracked the cherry-stone, which Avas 
filled with a kernel ; he divided it, and. found in the 
middle a grain of wheat, and in that a grain of millet- 
seed. He was now absolutely confounded, and could 
not help muttering betAveen his teeth, Oh, white cat, 
white cat, thou hast deceived me ! ” At this instant 
he felt his hand scratched by the claAv of a cat ; upon 
which he again took courage, and opening the grain 
of millet-seed, to the astonishment of all present he 
drew forth a piece of cambric four hundred yards long, 
and fine enough to be threaded with perfect ease 
through the eye of the needle. 

When the king found he had no pretext left for 
refusing the crown to his youngest son, he sighed 
deeply, and it was easy to be seen that he was sorry 
for the prince’s success. 


290 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


My sons,” said he, it is so gratifying to the 
heart of a father to receive proofs of his children’s 
love and obedience that I cannot refuse myself the 
satisfaction of requiring of you one thing more. You 
must undertake another expedition. That one of you 
who, by the end of a year, brings me the most beauti- 
ful lady shall marry her and obtain my crown.” 

So they again took leave of the king and of each 
other, and set out. without delay ; and in less than 
twelve hours our young prince arrived, in his 
splendid car, at the palace of his. dear white cat. 
Everything went on as before till the end of another 
year. At length only one day remained of the year, 
when the white cat thus addressed him : To-morrow, 
my prince, you must present yourself at the palace of 
your father, and give him a proof of your obedience. 
It depends only on yourself to conduct thither the 
most beautiful princess ever yet beheld, for the time 
is come when the enchantment by which I am bound 
may be ended. You must cut olf my head and tail,” 
continued she, and throw them into the fire.” 

I ! ” said the prince hastily. I cut off your 
head and tail ! You surely mean to try my affection, 
which, believe me, beautiful cat, is truly yours.” 

You mistake me, generous prince,” said she ; I 
do not doubt your regard ; but if you wish to see me 
in any other form than that of a cat, you must con- 
sent to do as I desire, when you will have done me a 
service I shall never be able sufficiently to repay.” 

The prince’s eyes filled with tears as she spoke, yet 
he considered himself obliged to undertake the dread- 
ful task ; and the cat continuing to press him with 
the greatest eagerness, with a trembling hand he 
drew his sword, cyt off her head and tail, and 
threw them into the fire. No sooner was this done 
than the most beautiful lady his eyes had ever seen 


THE AVHITE CAT. 


291 


stood before him; and ere lie had sufficiently re- 
covered from his surprise to speak to her, a long 
train of attendants, who, at the same moment as their 
mistress, were changed to their natural shapes, came 
to offer their congratulations to the queen, and inquire 
her commands. She received them with the greatest 
kindness, and, ordering them to withdraw, thus ad- 
dressed the astonished prince : 

“ Do not imagine, dear prince, that I have always 
been a cat, or that I am of obscure birth. My father 
was the monarch of six kingdoms ; he tenderly loved 
my mother, and left her alwa3^s at liberty to follow 
her own inclinations. Her prevailing passion was to 
travel ; and a short time before my birth, having 
heard of some fairies who were in possession of the 
largest gardens filled with the most delicious fruits, 
she had so strong a desire to eat some of them that 
she set out for the country where they lived. She 
arrived at their abode, which she found to be a mag- 
nificent palace, on all sides glittering with gold and 
precious stones. She knocked a long time at the 
gates; but no one came, nor could she perceive the 
least sign that it had ’any inhabitant. The difficulty, 
however, did but increase the violence of my mother’s 
longing ; for she saw the tops of the trees above the 
garden-walls loaded with most luscious fruits. The 
queen, in despair, ordered her attendants to place 
tents close to the door of the palace ; but, having 
waited six weeks without seeing anyone pass the 
gates, she fell sick of vexation, and her life was 
desp;aired of. 

One night, as she lay half asleep, she turned her- 
self about, and, opening her eyes, perceived a little old 
woman, very ugly and deformed, seated in the easy- 
chair by her bedside. ^ I and my sister fairies,’ said she, 
‘ take it very ill that your majesty should so obsti- 


292 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


nately persist in getting some of our fruit ; but since 
so precious a life is at stake, we consent to give you 
as much as you can carry away, provided you will 
give us in return what we shall ask.’ ‘ Ah ! kind 
fairy,’ cried the queen, ^ I will give you anything that 
I possess, even my very kingdoms, on condition that 
I eat of your fruit.’ The old fairy then informed the 
queen that what they required was, that she should 
give them the child she was going to have, as soon as 
it should be born ; adding that every possible care 
should be taken of it, and that it should become the 
most accomplished princess. The queen replied that, 
however cruel the conditions, she must accept them, 
since nothing but the fruit could save her life. In 
short, dear prince,” continued the lady, “ my mother 
instantly got out of bed, was dressed by her attend- 
ants, entered the palace, and satisfied her longing. 
Having eaten her fill, she ordered four thousand mules 
to be procured and loaded with the fruit, which had 
the virtue of continuing all the year round in a state 
of perfection. Thus provided, she returned to the 
king my father, who, with the whole court, received 
her with rejoicings, as it was before imagined she 
would die of disappointment. All this time the queen 
said nothing to my father of the promise she had 
made to give her daughter to the fairies ; so that when 
the time was come that she expected my birth, she 
grew very melancholy ; till at length, being pressed 
by the king, she declared to him the truth. Nothing 
could exceed his affliction when he heard that his 
only child, when born, was to be given to the furies. 
He bore it, however, as well as he could, for fear of 
adding to my mother’s grief ; and also believing he 
should find some means of keeping me in a place of 
safety, which the fairies would not be able to approach. 
As soon, therefore, as I was born, he had me conveyed 


THE WHITE CAT. 


29B 


to a tower in the palace, to which there were twenty 
flights of stairs, and a door to each, of which my 
father kept the key, so that none came near me with- 
out his consent. When the fairies heard of what had 
been done, they sent first to demand me ; and on my 
father’s refusal, they let loose a monstrous dragon, 
which devoured men, women, and children, and which 
by the breath of its nostrils destroyed everything it 
came near, so that even the trees and plants began to 
die. The grief of the king was excessive ; and, find- 
ing that his whole kingdom would in a short time be 
reduced to famine, he consented to give me into their 
hands. I was accordingly laid in a cradle of mother- 
o’-pearl, ornamented with gold and jewels, and carried 
to their palace, when the dragon immediately disap- 
peared. The fairies placed me in a tower, elegantly 
furnished, but to which there was no door, so that 
whoever approached was obliged to come by the win- 
dows, which were a great height from the ground. 
From these I had the liberty of getting out into a 
delightful garden, in which were baths and every 
sort of cooling fruit. In this place was I educated 
by the fairies, who behaved to me with the great- 
est kindness ; my clothes were splendid, and I was 
instructed in every kind of accomplishment ; in short, 
prince, if I had never seen anyone but themselves I 
should have remained very happy. One day, how- 
ever, as I was talking at the window with my parrot, 
1 perceived a young gentleman who was listening to 
our conversation. As I had never seen a man but in 
pictures, I was not sorry for the opportunity of grati- 
fying my curiosity. I thought him a very pleasing 
object, and he at length bowed in the most respectful 
manner, without daring to speak, for he knew that I 
was in the palace of the fairies. When it began to 
grow dark he went away, and I vainly endeavored 


294 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


to see which road he took. The next morning, as 
soon as it was light, I again placed myself at the 
window, and had the pleasure of seeing that the gen- 
tleman had returned to the same place. He now spoke 
to me through a speaking-trumpet, and informed me 
he thought me a most charming lady, and that he 
should be very unhappy if he did not pass his life in 
my company. 

I resolved to find some means of escaping from my 
tower, and was not long in devising the means for the 
execution of my project ; I begged the fairies to bring 
me a netting-needle, a mesh, and some cord, saying I 
wished to make some nets to amuse myself with 
catching birds at my window. This they readily 
complied with, and in a short time I completed a 
ladder long enough to reach to the ground. I now 
sent my parrot to the prince, to beg he would come to 
the usual place, as I wished to speak with him. He 
did not fail ; and finding the ladder, mounted it, and 
quickly entered my tower. This at^first alarmed me, 
but the charms of his conversation had restored me to 
tranquillity, when all at once the window opened, and 
the Fairy Violent, mounted on the dragon’s back, 
rushed into the tower. My beloved prince thought of 
nothing but how to defend me from their fury ; for I 
had had time to relate to him my story, previous to 
this cruel interruption ; but their numbers overpowered 
him, and the Fairy Violent had the barbarity to com- 
mand the dragon to devour my lover before my eyes. 
In my despair, I would have thrown myself also into 
the mouth of the horrible monster ; but this they took 
care to prevent, saying my life should be preserved 
for greater punishment. The fairy then touched me 
with her wand, and I instantly became a white cat. 
She next conducted me to this palace, which belonged 
to my father, and gave me a train of cats for my 


THE WHITE CAT. 


295 


attendants, together with the twelve hands that 
waited on your highness. She then informed me of 
my birth and the death of my parents, and pro- 
nounced upon me what she imagined the greatest of 
maledictions : that I should not be restored to my 
natural figure until a young prince, the perfect 
resemblance of him I had lost, should cut off my 
head and tail. You are that perfect resemblance ; and 
accordingly you ended the enchantment. I need not 
add that I already love you more than my life ; let 
us therefore hasten to the palace of the king your 
father, and obtain his approbation to our marriage.’’ 

The prince and princess accordingly set out side by 
side, in a car of still greater splendor than before, 
and reached the palace just as the two brothers had 
arrived with two beautiful princesses. The king, 
hearing that each of his sons had succeeded in finding 
what he had required, again began to think of some 
new expedient to delay the time of his resigning the 
crown ; but when the whole court were with the king 
assembled to pass judgment, the princess who accom- 
panied the youngest, perceiving his thoughts by his 
countenance, stepped majestically forward and thus 
addressed him : 

‘‘ It is a pity that your majesty, who is so capable 
of governing, should think of resigning the crown ! 
I am fortunate enough to have six kingdoms in my 
possession ; permit me to bestow one on each of the 
eldest princes, and to enjoy the remaining four in the 
society of the youngest. And may it please your 
majesty to keep your own kingdom, and make no 
decision concerning the beauty of three princesses 
who, without such a proof of your majesty’s prefer- 
ence, will no doubt live happily together.” 

The air resounded with the applauses of the 
assembly; the young prince and princess embraced 


296 


THE EAIMY BOOK. 


the king and next their brothers and sisters ; tlie 
three weddings immediately took place, and the king- 
doms were divided as the princess had proposed. 


PRINCE CHERRY. 

Long ago there lived a monarch who was such a 
very honest man that his subjects entitled him the 
Good King. One day when he was out hunting, a 
little white rabbit, which had been half killed by his 
hounds, leaped right into his majesty’s arms. Said 
he, caressing it : This poor creature has put itself 
under my protection, and I will allow no one to injure 
it.” So he carried it to his palace, had prepared for 
it a neat little rabbit hutch, with abundance of the 
daintiest food, such as rabbits love, and there he left it. 

The same night, when he was alone in his chamber, 
there appeared to him a beautiful lady. She was 
dressed neither in gold, nor silver, nor brocade ; but 
her flowing robes were white as snow, and she wore a 
garland of white roses on her head. The Good King 
was greatly astonished at the sight ; for his door was 
locked, and he wondered how so dazzling a lady could 
possibly enter ; but she soon removed his doubts. 

I am the Fairy Candide,” said she, with a smiling 
and gracious air. Passing through the wood where 
you were hunting, I took a desire to know if you were 
as good as men say you are. I therefore changed 
myself into a white rabbit, and took refuge in your 
arms. You saved me ; and now I know that those 
who are merciful to dumb beasts will be ten times 
more so to human beings. You merit the name your 
subjects give you ; you are the Good King. I thank 
you for your protection, and shall be always one of 


PRINCE CHERRY. 


297 


your best friends. You have but to say what you 
most desire, and I promise you your with shall be 
granted.’’ 

“ Madam,” replied the king, “ if you are a fairy, 
you must know, without my telling you, the wish of 
my heart. I have one well-beloved son, Prinee Cherry ; 
whatever kindly feeling you have towards me, extend 
it to him.” 

“ Willingly,” said Candide. I will make him the 
handsomest, richest, or most powerful prince in the 
world ; choose whichever you desire for him.” 

“ Xone of the three,” returned the father. I only 
wish him to be good — the best prince in the whole 
world. Of what use would riches, power, or beauty 
be to him if he were a bad man ? ” 

You are right,” said the fairy ; but I cannot 
make him good. He must do that himself. I can 
only change his external fortunes ; for his personal 
character, the utmost I can promise is to give him 
good counsel, reprove him for his faults, and even 
punish him, if he will not punish himself. You 
mortals can but do the same with your children.” 

“ Ah, yes ! ” said the king, sighing. Still, he felt 
that the kindness of a fairy was something gained for 
his son, and died not long after, content and at peace. 

Prince Cherry mourned deeply, for he dearly loved 
his father, and would have gladly given all his king- 
doms and treasures to keep him in life a little longer. 
Two days after the Good King was no more. Prince 
Cherry was sleeping in his chamber, when he saw the 
same dazzling vision of the fairy Candide. 

I promised your father,” said she, to be your best 
friend, and in pledge of this take what I now give 
you ; ” and she placed a small gold ring upon his 
linger. Poor as it looks, it is more precious than 
diamonds ; for whenever you do ill it will prick your 


298 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


finger. If, after that warning, you still continue in 
evil, you will lose my friendship, and I shall become 
your direst enemy.’^ 

So saying, she disappeared, leaving Cherry in such 
amazement that he would have believed it all a dream, 
save for the ring on his finger. 

He was for a long time so good that the ring never 
pricked him at all ; and this made him so cheerful 
and pleasant in his humor that everybody called him 
“ Happy Prince Cherry.’’ But one unlucky day he 
was out hunting and found no sport, which vexed him 
so much that he showed his ill temper by his looks 
and ways. He fancied his ring felt very tight and 
uncomfortable, but as it did not prick him he took no 
heed of this, until, reentering his palace, his little 
pet dog, Bibi, jumped up upon him, and was sharply 
told to get away. The creature, accustomed to nothing 
but caresses, tried to attract his attention by pulling 
at his garments, when Prince Cherry turned and gave 
it a severe kick. At this moment he felt in his finger 
a prick like a pin. 

What nonsense ! ” said he to himself. “ The fairy 
must be making game of me. Why, what great evil 
have I done ? I, the master of a great empire, cannot 
I kick my own dog ? ” 

A voice replied, or else Prince Cherry imagined it, 
^‘No, sire; the master of a great empire has a right 
to do good, but not evil. I — a fairy — am as much 
above you as you are above your dog. I might punish 
you, kill you, if I chose ; but I prefer leaving you to 
amend your ways. You have been guilty of three 
faults to-day — bad temper, passion, cruelty : do better 
to-morrow.” 

The prince promised, and kept his word awhile ; 
but he had been brought up by a foolish nurse, who 
indulged him in every way, and was always telling 


PRINCE CHERRY. 


299 


him that he would be a king one day, when he might 
do as he liked in all things. He found out now that 
even a king cannot always do that; it vexed him and 
made him angry. His ring began to prick him so often 
that his little linger was continually bleeding. He 
disliked this, as was natural ; and soon began to con- 
sider whether it would not be easier to throw the ring 
away altogether than to be constantly annoyed by it. 

It was such a queer thing for a king to have always a 
spot of blood on his finger ! At last, unable to put up 
with it any more, he took his ring off and hid it 
where he would never see it, and believed himself the 
happiest of men, for he could now do exactly what he 
liked. He did it, and became every day more and 
more miserable. 

One day he saw a young girl so beautiful that, 
being always accustomed to have his own way, he 
immediately determined to espouse her. He never 
doubted that she would be only too glad to be made a 
queen, for she was very poor. But Zelia — that was 
her name — answered, to his great astonishment, that 
she would rather not marry him. 

Do I displease you ? ” asked the prince, into whose 
mind it had never entered that he could displease any- 
body. 

^^Not at all, my prince,’’ said the honest peasant- 
maiden. You are very handsome, very charming ; 
but you are not like your father, the Good King. I * 
will not be your queen, for you would make me miser- 
able.” 

At these words the prince’s love seemed all to turn 
to hatred ; he gave orders to his guards to convey 
Zelia to a prison near the palace ; and then took 
counsel with his foster-brother, the one of all his ill 
companions who most incited him to do wrong. 

^^Sir,” said this man, if I were in your majesty’s 


300 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


place, I would never vex myself about a poor silly girl. 
Feed her on bread and water till she comes to her 
senses ; and if she still refuses you, let her die in tor- 
ment, as a warning to your other subjects, should they 
venture to dispute your will. You will be disgraced, 
should you suffer yourself to be conquered by a simple 
girl.” 

“ But,” said Prince Cherry, shall I not be disgraced 
if I harm a creature so perfectly innocent ?” 

No one is innocent who disputes your majesty’s 
authority,” said the courtier, bowing ; and it is 
better to commit an injustice than allow it to be sup- 
posed you can ever be contradicted with impunity.” 

This touched Cherry on his weak point ; his good 
impulses faded ; he resolved once more to ask Zelia if 
she would marry him, and if she again refused to sell 
her as a slave. Arrived at the cell in which she was 
confined, what was his astonishment to find her gone ! 
He knew not whom to accuse, for he had kept the key 
in his pocket the whole time. At last the foster- 
brother suggested that the escape of Zelia might have 
been contrived by an old man, Sulinian by name, the 
prince’s former tutor, who was the only one who now 
ventured to blame him for anything he did. Cherry 
sent immediately, and ordered his old friend to be 
brought to him, loaded heavily with irons. Then, full 
of fury, he went and shut himself up in his own 
chamber, where he went raging to and fro, till startled 
by a noise like a clap of thunder. The Fairy Candide 
stood before him. 

‘‘ Prince,” said she, in a severe voice, I promised 
your father to give you good counsels, and to punish 
you if you refused to follow them. My cdhnsels were 
forgotten, my punishments despised. Under the figure 
of a man, you have been no better than the beasts you 
chase : like a lion iii^ fury, a wolf in gluttony, a ser- 


PllINCE CHERRY. 


301 


pent in revenge, and a bull in brutality. Take, there- 
fore, in your new form the likeness of all these 
animals.’’ 

Scarcely had Prince Cherry heard these words than, 
to his horror, he found himself transformed into what 
the fairy had named. He was a creature with the head 
of a lion, the horns of a bull, the feet of a wolf, and 
the tail of a serpent. At the same time he felt himself 
transported to a distant forest, where, standing on the 
bank of a stream, he saw reflected in the water his own 
frightful shape, and heard a voice saying : 

“ Look at thyself, and know thy soul has become a 
thousand times uglier even than thy body.” 

Cherry recognized the voice of Candide, and in his 
rage would have sprung upon her and devoured her ; but 
he saw nothing, and the same voice said behind him : 

“ Cease thy feeble fury, and learn to conquer thy 
pride by being in submission to thine own subjects.” 

Hearing no more, he soon quitted the stream, hop- 
ing at least to get rid of the sight of himself ; but he 
had scarcely gone twenty paces when he tumbled into 
a pitfall that was laid to catch bears ; the bear-hunters, 
descending from some trees hard by, caught him, 
chained him, and, only too delighted to get hold of such 
a curious-looking animal, led him along with them to 
the capital of his own kingdom. 

There great rejoicings were taking place, and the 
bear-hunters, asking what it was all about, were told 
that it was because Prince Cherry, the torment of his 
subjects, had just been struck dead by a thunderbolt 
— just punishment of all his crimes. Four courtiers, 
his wicked companions, had wished to divide his 
throne between them ; but the people had risen up 
against them, and offered the crown to Suliman, the 
old tutor whom Cherry had ordered to be arrested. 

All this the poor • monster heard. He even saw 


302 


THE EAIKY BOOK. 


Sulim an sitting upon Ms own throne, and trying to 
calm the populace by representing to them that it was 
not certain Prince Cherry was dead ; that he might 
return one day to reassume with honor the crown 
which Suliman only consented to wear as a sort of 
viceroy. 

I know his heart,’’ said the honest and faithful old 
man ; it is tainted, but not corrupt. If alive, he may 
reform yet, and be all his father over again to you, 
his people, whom he has caused to suffer so much.” 

These words touched the poor beast so deeply that 
he ceased to beat himself against the iron bars of the 
cage in which the hunters carried him about, became 
gentle as a lamb, and suffered himself to be taken 
quietly to a menagerie where were kept all sorts of 
strange and ferocious animals — a place which he had 
himself often visited as a boy, but never thought he 
should be shut up there himself. 

However, he owned he had deserved it all, and began 
to make amends by showing himself very obedient to 
his keeper. This man was almost as great a brute as 
the animals he had charge of, and when he was in ill 
humor he used to beat them without rhyme or reason 
One day, while he was sleeping, a tiger broke loose 
and leaped upon him, eager to devour him. Cherry 
at first felt a thrill of pleasure at the thought of being 
revenged; then, seeing how helpless the man was, 
he wished himself free, that he might defend him. 
Immediately the doors of his cage opened. The keeper, 
waking up, saw the strange beast leap out, and im- 
agined, of course, that he was going to be slain at 
once. Instead, he saw the tiger lying dead, and the 
strange beast creeping up and laying itself at his 
feet to be caressed. But as he lifted up his hand to 
stroke it, a voice was heard saying, “ Good actions 
never go unrewarded ; ” and, instead of the frightful 


PRINCE CHERRY. 


303 


monster, there crouched on the ground nothing but a 
pretty little dog. 

Cherry, delighted to find himself thus metamor- 
phosed, caressed the keeper in every possible way, till 
at last the man took him up into his arms and carried 
him to the king, to whom he related this wonderful 
story from beginning to end. The queen wished to 
have the charming little dog; and Cherry would have 
been exceedingly happy, could he have forgotten that 
he was originally a man and a king. He was lodged 
most elegantly, had the richest of collars to adorn his 
neck, and heard himself praised continually. But his 
beauty rather brought him into trouble, for the queen, 
afraid lest he might grow too large for a pet, took 
advice of dog-doctors, who ordered that he should be 
fed entirely upon bread, and that very sparingly ; so 
poor Cherry was sometimes nearly starved. 

One day when they gave him his crust for break- 
fast, a fancy seized him to go and eat it in the palace 
garden ; so he took the bread in his mouth, and trotted 
away towards a stream which he knew, and where he 
sometimes stopped to drink. But instead of the stream 
he saw a splendid palace glittering with gold and pre- 
cious stones. Entering the doors was a crowd of men 
and women magnificently dressed; and within there 
was dancing and good cheer of all sorts. Yet, how- 
ever grandly and gayly the people went in. Cherry 
noticed that those who came out were pale, thin, 
ragged, half-naked, covered with wounds and sores. 
Some of them dropped dead at once ; others dragged 
themselves on a little way and then lay down dying 
of hunger, and vainly begged a morsel of bread from 
others who were entering in who never took the 
least notice of them. 

Cherry perceived one woman who was trying 
feebly to gather and eat some green herbs. Boor 


304 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


thing ! ” said he to himself ; I know what it is to be 
hungry, and I want my breakfast badly enough ; but 
still it will not kill me to wait till dinner-time, and 
]ny crust may save the life of this poor woman.” 

So the little dog ran up to her and dropped his 
bread at her feet ; she picked it up and ate it with 
avidity. Soon she looked quite recovered, and Cherry, 
delighted, was trotting back again to his kennel, when 
he heard loud cries, and saw a young girl dragged by 
four men to the door of the palace, which they were 
trying to compel her to enter. Oh, how he wished him- 
self a monster again, as when he slew the tiger ! — 
for the young girl was no other than his beloved 
Zelia. Alas ! what could a poor little dog do to 
defend her ? But he ran forward and barked at the 
men, and bit their heels, until at last they chased him 
away with heavy blows. And then he lay down out- 
side the palace door, determined to watch and see 
what had become of Zelia. 

Conscience pricked him now. What ! ” thought 
he ; I am furious against these wicked men who are 
carrying her away ; and did I not do the same myself ? 
Did I not cast her into prison and intend to sell her 
as a slave ? Who knows how much more wickedness 
I might have done to her and others, if heaven’s justice 
had not stopped me in time ? ” 

While he lay thinking and repenting he heard a 
window open, and saw Zelia throw out of it a bit of 
dainty meat. Cherry, who felt hungry enough by this 
time, was just about to eat it, when the woman to 
whom he had given his crust snatched him up in her 
arms. 

Poor little beast ! ” cried she, patting him ; every 
bit of food in that palace is poisoned; you shall not 
touch a morsel.” 

And at the same time the voice in the air repeated 





“ Chkrkv saw a poor Peasant Girl, and recognized Zelia.” 


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. i 


PRINCE CHERRY. 


305 


again, Good actions never go unrewarded ; ’’ and 
Cherry found himself changed into a beautiful little 
white pigeon. He remembered with joy that white 
was the color of the Fairy Candide, and began to hope 
that she was taking him into favor again. 

So' he stretched his wings, delighted that he might 
now have a chance of approaching his fair Zelia. He 
flew up to the palace windows, and, finding one of them 
open, entered and sought everywhere, but he could not 
find Zelia. Then, in despair, he flew out again, resolved 
to go over the world until he beheld her once more. 

He took flight at once, and traversed many coun- 
tries, swiftly as a bird can, but found no trace of his 
beloved. At length in a desert, sitting beside an old 
hermit in his cave, and partaking with him his frugal 
repast. Cherry saw a poor peasant-girl, and recognized 
Zelia. Transported with joy, he flew in, perched on her 
shoulder, and expressed his delight and affection by a 
thousand caresses. 

She, charmed with the pretty little pigeon, caressed 
it in her turn, and promised it that, if it would stay 
with her, she would love it always. 

What have you done, Zelia ? ” said the hermit, 
smiling; and while he spoke the white pigeon van- 
ished, and there stood Prince Cherry in his own natu- 
ral form. Your enchantment ended, prince, when 
Zelia promised to love you. Indeed, she has loved 
you always, but your many faults constrained her to 
hide her love. These are now amended, and you may 
both live happy if you will, because your union is 
founded upon mutual esteem.’’ 

Cherry and Zelia threw themselves at the feet of 
the hermit, whose form also began to change. His 
soiled garments became of dazzling whiteness, and his 
long beard and withered face grew into the flowing 
hair and lovely countenance of the Fairy Candide. 


306 


THE FAIKY BOOK. 


“ Rise up, my children,” said she ; I must now 
transport you to your palace, and restore to Prince 
Cherry his father’s crown, of which he is now worthy.” 

She had scarcely ceased speaking when they found 
themselves in the chamber of Suliman, who, delighted 
to find again his beloved pupil and master, willingly 
resigned the throne and became the most faithful of 
his subjects. 

King Cherry and Queen Zelia reigned together for 
many years, and it is said that the former was so 
blameless and strict in all his duties that though he 
constantly wore the ring which Candide had restored 
to him it never once pricked his finger enough to make 
it bleed. 


LITTLE SKOAVDROP. 

Once upon a time, in the middle of winter, when 
the fiakes of snow fell like feathers from the sky, a 
queen sat at a window set in an ebony frame, and 
sewed. While she was sewing and watching the snow 
fall, she pricked her finger with her needle, and three 
drops of blood dropped on the snow. And because the 
crimson looked so beautiful on the white snow, she 
thought, Oh, that I had a child as white as snow, as 
red as blood, and as black as the wood of this ebony 
frame ! ” 

Soon afterwards she had a little daughter, who was 
as white as snow, as red as blood, and had hair as 
black as ebony. And when the child was born the 
queen died. 

After a year had gone by, the king took another 
wife. She was a handsome lady, but proud and 
haughty, and could not endure that any one should 
surpass her in beauty. She had a wonderful mirror. 


LITTLE SNOWDROP. 307 

and whenever she walked up to it and looked at her- 
self in it, she said : 

‘‘ Little glass upon the wall, 

Who is fairest among us all ? ” 

Then the mirror replied : 

Lady queen, so grand and tall, 

Thou art the fairest of them all.” 

And she was satisfied, for she knew the mirror 
always told the truth. But Snowdrop grew ever taller 
and fairer, and at seven years old was beautiful as the 
day, and more beautiful than the queen herself. So 
once, when the queen asked of her mirror : 

“ Little glass upon the wall. 

Who is fairest among us all? ” 


• it answered : 

“ Lady queen, you are grand and tall. 

But Snowdrop is fairest of you all.” 

Then the queen was startled, and turned yellow and 
green with envy. From that hour she so hated Snow- 
drop that she burned with secret wrath whenever she 
saw the maiden. Pride and envy grew apace like 
weeds in her heart, till she had no rest day or night. 
So she called a huntsman, and said, Take the child 
out in the forest, for I will endure her no longer in 
my sight. Kill her, and bring me her lungs and liver 
as tokens that you have done it.’^ 

The huntsman obeyed, and led the child away ; but 
when he had drawn his hunting-knife, and was about 
to pierce Snowdrop’s innocent heart, she began to 
weep, and said, Ah ! dear huntsman, spare my life, 
and I will run deep into the wild forest, and never 
more come home.” 


308 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


The huntsman took pity on her, because she looked 
so lovely, and said, Run away then, poor child ! ” 
The wild beasts will soon make an end of thee,” he 
thought ; but it seemed as if a stone had been rolled 
from his heart, because he had avoided taking her life ; 
and as a little bear came by just then, he killed it, 
took out its liver and lungs, and carried them as tokens 
to the queen. She made the cook dress them with 
salt, and then the wicked woman ate them, and thought 
she had eaten Snowdrop’s lungs and liver. The poor 
child was now all alone in the great forest, and she 
felt frightened as she looked at all the leafy trees, and 
knew not what to do. So she began to run, and ran 
over the sharp stones, and through the thorns ; and 
the wild beasts passed close to her, but did her no 
harm. She ran as long as her feet could carry her, 
and when evening closed in she saw a little house, 
and went into it to rest herself. Everything in the 
house was very small, but I cannot tell you how pretty 
and clean it was. 

There stood a little table, covered with a white 
tablecloth, on which were seven little plates (each little 
plate with its own little spoon), also seven little 
knives and forks, and seven little cups. Round the 
walls stood seven little beds close together, with sheets 
as white as snow. Snowdrop, being so hungry and 
thirsty, ate a little of the vegetables and bread on each 
plate, and drank a drop of wine from every cup, for 
she did not like to empty one entirely. 

Then, being very tired, she laid herself down in one 
of the beds, but could not make herself comfortable, 
for one was too long and another too short. The 
seventh, .luckily, was just right ; so there she stayed, 
said her prayers, and fell asleep. 

When it was grown quite dark, home came the 
masters of the house, seven dwarfs, who delved and 


LITTLE SNOWDROP. 


809 


mined for iron among the mountains. They lighted 
their seven candles, and as soon as there was a light 
in the kitchen they saw that some one had been there, 
for it was not quite so orderly as they had left it. 

The first said, Who has been sitting on my stool ? ” 
The second, Who has eaten off my plate ? ” 

The third, Who has taken part of my loaf ? ” 

The fourth, “ Who has touched my vegetables ? ” 
The fifth, “ Who has used my fork ? ” 

The sixth, Who has cut with my knife ? ” 

The seventh, Who has drunk out of my little 
cup ? ” 

Then the first dwarf looked about, and saw that 
there was a slight hollow in his bed, so he asked. 
Who has been lying in my little bed ? ” 

The others came running, and each called out. 
Some one has also been lying in my bed.” 

But the seventh, when he looked in his bed, saw 
Snowdrop there, fast asleep. He called the others, 
who flocked round with cries of surprise, fetched their 
seven candles, and cast the light on Snowdrop. 

Oh, heaven ! ” they cried. What a lovely child ! ” 
and were so pleased that they would not wake her, 
but let her sleep on in the little bed. The seventh 
dwarf slept with all his companions in turn, an hour 
with each, and so they spent the night. When it was 
morning Snowdrop woke up, and was frightened when 
she saw the seven dwarfs. They were very friendly, 
however, and inquired her name. 

‘‘ Snowdrop,” answered she. 

How have you found your way to our house ? ” 
further asked the dwarfs. 

So she told them how her stepmother had tried to 
kill her, how the huntsman had spared her life, and 
how she had run the whole day through, till at last she 
had found their little house. 


310 


• THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Then the dwarfs said, If thou wilt keep our house, 
cook, make the beds, wash, sew and knit, and make all 
neat and clean, thou canst stay with us, and shalt want 
for nothing/’ 

‘‘ I will, right willingly,” said Snowdrop. So she 
dwelt with them, and kept their house in order. 
Every morning they went out among the mountains 
to seek iron and gold, and came home ready for supper 
in the evening. 

The maiden being left alone, the good dwarfs 
warned her, saying, Beware of thy wicked step- 
mother, who will soon find out that thou art here ; take 
care that thou lettest nobody in.” 

The queen, however, after having, as she thought, 
eaten Snowdrop’s lungs and liver, had no doubt that 
she was again the first and fairest woman in the world ; 
so she walked up to her mirror, and said : 

“ Little glass upon the wall, 

Who is fairest among us all ? ” 

The mirror replied : 

‘‘Lady queen, so grand and tall, 

Here you are fairest of them all ; 

But over the hills, with the seven dwarfs old, 

Lives Snowdrop, fairer a hundredfold.” 

She trembled, knowing the mirror never told a 
falsehood. She felt sure that the huntsman had 
deceived her, and that Snowdrop was still alive. 
She pondered once more, late and early, early and 
late, how best to kill Snowdrop ; for envy gave her 
no rest, day or night, while she herself was not the 
fairest lady in the land. When she had planned 
what to do, she painted her face, dressed herself like 
an old pedler-woman, and altered her appearance so 
much that no one could have known her. In this 
disguise she went over the seven hills, to where the 


LITTLE SNOWDROP. 


311 


seven dwarfs dwelt, knocked at the door, and cried. 
Good wares, cheap ! very cheap ! ” 

Snowdrop looked out of the window and cried. 
Good morning, good woman ; what have you ' to 
sell ? ” 

Good wares, smart wares,’’ answered the queen ; 
“ bodice laces of all colors, ” and drew out one which 
was woven of colored silk. 

I may surely let this honest dame in ! ” thought 
Snowdrop ; so she unfastened the door, and bought for 
herself the pretty lace. 

Child,” said the old woman, what a figure thou 
art ! Let me lace thee for once properly.” Snow- 
drop feared no harm, so stepped in front of her, and 
allowed her bodice to be fastened up with the new 
lace. 

But the old woman laced so quick and laced so 
tight that Snowdrop’s breath was stopped, and she 
fell down as if dead. Now I am fairest at last,” 
said the old woman to herself, and sped away. 

The seven dwarfs came home soon after, at even- 
tide, but how alarmed were they to find their poor 
Snowdrop lifeless on the ground! They lifted her 
up, and, seeing that she was laced too tightly, cut the 
lace of her bodice ; she began to breathe faintly, and 
slowly returned to life. AVhen the dwarfs heard 
what had happened, they said, ‘^The old pedler- 
woman was none other than the wicked queen. Be 
careful of thyself, and open the door to no one if we 
are not at home.” 

The cruel stepmother walked up to her mirror 
when she reached home, and said: 

“ Little glass upon the wall, 

Who is fairest among us all? ” 

To which it answered, as usual : 


812 


THE FAIKY BOOK. 


Lady queen, so grand and tall, 

Here you are fairest of them all ; 

But over the hills, with the seven dwarfs old, 

Lives Snowdrop, fairer a hundredfold.” 

When she heard this she was so alarmed that all 
the blood rushed to her heart, for she saw plainly that 
Snowdrop was still alive. 

This time,’^ said she, I will think of some means 
that shall destroy her utterly ; ” and with the help of 
witchcraft, in which she was skilful, she made a 
poisoned comb. Then she changed her dress and took 
the shape of another old woman. 

Again she crossed the seven hills to the home of 
the seven dwarfs, knocked at the door, and cried. 

Good wares, very cheap ! ” 

Snowdrop looked out and said, Go away, I dare 
let no one in.’’ 

^ Won may surely be allowed to look ! ” answered 
the old woman, and she drew out the poisoned comb 
and held it up. The girl was so pleased with it that 
she let herself be cajoled, and opened the door. 

When the bargain was struck, the dame said, 
“ Now let me dress your hair properly for once.” 
Poor Snowdrop took no heed, and let the old woman 
begin; but the comb had scarcely touched her hair 
before the poison worked, and she fell down sense- 
less. 

Paragon of beauty ! ” said the wicked woman, 

all is over with thee now,” and went away. 

Luckily it was near evening, and the seven dwarfs 
soon came home. When they found Snowdrop lifeless 
on the ground, they at once distrusted her stepmother. 
They searched and found the poisoned comb ; and as 
soon as they had drawn it out. Snowdrop came to her- 
self and told them what had happened. Again they 
warned her to be careful and open the door to no one. 


LITTLE SNOWDROP. 


313 


The queen placed herself before the mirror at home 
and said : 

Little glass upon the wall, 

Who is fairest among us all ? ” 

But it again answered : 

Lady queen, so grand and tall, 

Here you are fairest of them all ; 

But over the hills, with the seven dwarfs old. 
Lives Snowdrop, fairer a thousandfold.” 

When she heard the mirror speak thus, she quivered 
with rage. Snowdrop shall die,’’ she cried, ‘^if it 
costs my own life ! ” 

Then she went to a secret and lonely chamber, 
where no one ever disturbed her, and compounded an 
apple of deadly poison. Kipe and rosy -cheeked, it 
was so beautiful to look upon that all who saw it 
longed for it ; but it brought death to any who should 
eat it. When the apple was ready, she painted her 
face, disguised herself as a peasant-woman, and 
journeyed over the seven hills to where the seven 
dwarfs dwelt. At the sound of the knock Snowdrop 
put her head out of the window, and said, I cannot 
open the door to anybody, for the seven dwarfs have 
forbidden me to do so.” 

^Wery well,” replied the peasant-woman; I only 
want to be rid of my apples. Here, I will give you 
one of them ! ” 

ISTo,” said Snowdrop, “ I dare not take it.” 

‘^Art thou afraid of being poisoned?” asked the 
old woman. Look here ; I will cut the apple in two, 
and you shall eat the rosy side and I the white.” 

Now the fruit was so cunningly made that only 
the rosy side was poisoned. Snowdrop longed for 
the pretty apple; and when she saw the peasant- 
woman eating it she could resist no longer, but 


314 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


stretched out her hand and took the poisoned half. 
She had scarcely tasted it when she fell lifeless to the 
ground. 

The queen, laughing loudly, watched her with a 
barbarous look, and cried, “ Oh, thou who art white as 
snow, red as blood, and black as ebony, the seven 
dwarfs cannot awaken thee this time ! ’’ 

And when she asked the mirror at home : 

“ Little glass upon the wall, 

Who is fairest among ns all? ” 

the mirror at last replied : 

Lady queen, so grand and tall. 

You are the fairest of them all.” 

So her envious heart had as much repose as an 
envious heart can ever know. 

When the dwarfs came home in the evening, they 
found Snowdrop lying breathless and motionless on 
the ground. They lifted her up, searched Avdiether 
she had anything poisonous about her, unlaced her, 
combed her hair, washed her with water and with 
wine ; but all was useless, for they could not bring 
the darling back to life. They laid her on a bier, 
and all the seven placed themselves round it, and 
mourned for her three long days. Then they would 
have buried her but that she still looked so fresh 
and life-like, and had such lovely rosy cheeks. “ We 
cannot lower her into the dark earth,’’ said they ; 
and caused a transparent coffin of glass to be made, so 
that she could be seen on all sides, and laid her in it, 
writing her name outside in letters of gold, which told 
that she was the daughter of a king. Then they 
placed the coffin on the mountain above, and one of 
them always stayed by it and guarded it. But there 
was little need to guard it, for even the wild animals 


littlp: snowdrop. 


315 


came and mourned for Snowdrop ; the birds likewise 
— first an owl, and then a raven, and afterwards a 
dove. 

Long, long years did Snowdrop lie in her coffin un- 
changed, looking as though asleep, for she was still 
white as snow, red as blood, and her hair was black as 
ebony. At last the son of a king chanced to wander 
into the forest, and came to the dwarfs’ house for a 
night’s shelter. He saw the coffin on the mountain 
with the beautiful Snowdrop in it, and read what was 
written there in letters of gold. Then he said to the 
dwarfs, “ Let me have the coffin ! I will give you 
whatever you like to ask for it.” 

But the dwarfs answered, ‘‘ We would not part 
with it for all the gold in the world.” 

He said again, Yet give it me ; for I cannot live 
without seeing Snowdrop, and though she is dead, I 
will prize and honor her as my beloved.” 

Then the good dwarfs took pity on him, and gave 
him the coffin. The prince had it borne away by his 
servants. They happened to stumble over a bush, and 
the shock forced the bit of poisoned apple which 
Snowdrop had tasted out of her throat. Immediately 
she opened her eyes, raised the coffin-lid, and sat up 
alive once more. ■ Oh, heaven ! ” cried she, where 
am I ? ” 

The prince answered joyfully, “Thou art with me,” 
and told her what had happened, saying, “ I love thee 
more dearly than anything else in the world. Come 
with me to my father’s castle, and be my wife.” 

Snowdrop, well pleased, went with him, and they 
were married with much state and grandeur. 

The wicked stepmother was invited to the feast. 
Bichly dressed, she stood before the mirror and asked 
of it : 

“ Little glass upon the wall, 

Who is fairest among us all?” 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


31 () 

The mirror answered : 

“Lady queen, so grand and tall, 

Here you are fairest among them all ; 

But the young queen over the mountains old 
Is fairer than you a thousandfold.” 

The evil-hearted woman uttered a curse, and could 
scarcely endure her anguish. She first resolved not 
to attend the wedding, but curiosity would not allow 
her to rest. She determined to travel and see who 
that young queen could be, who was the most beauti- 
ful in all the world. When she came and found that 
it was Snowdrop alive again, she stood petrified with 
terror and despair. Then two iron shoes, heated 
burning hot, were drawn out of the fire with a pair of 
tongs, and laid before her feet. She was forced to 
put them on, and to go and dance at Snowdrop’s 
wedding — dancing, dancing on these red-hot shoes 
till she fell down dead. 


THE BLUE BIRD. 

A POWERFUL and wealthy king, having lost his 
wife, was so inconsolable that he shut himself up for 
eight entire days in a little cabinet, where he spent 
his time in knocking his head against the wall, until 
the courtiers were afraid he would kill himself ! They 
accordingly placed stuffed mattresses over every wall, 
and allowed all his subjects who desired to pay him 
a visit, trusting that something would be said to alle- 
viate his grief. But neither grave nor lively discourse 
made any impression upon him ; he scarcely heard 
what was spoken. At last there presented herself 
before him a lady covered from head to foot in a long 
crape veil, who wept and sobbed so much that the king 


THE BLUE BIRD. 


317 


noticed her. She told him that she did not come, like 
the rest, to console him, but rather to encourage his 
grief. She herself had lost the best of husbands, and 
here she began to weep so profusely that it was a 
wonder her eyes were not melted out of her head. 
The king began to weep in company and to talk to her 
of his dear wife ; she did the same of her dear hus- 
band ; in fact, they talked so much that they talked 
their sorrow quite away. Then, lifting up her veil, 
she showed lovely blue eyes and dark eyelashes. The 
king noticed her more and more — he spoke less and 
less of the departed queen ; by and by he ceased to 
speak of her at all. The end was, that he courted the 
inconsolable lady in the black veil, and married her. 

By his first marriage he had one daughter, called 
Fiorina, or the little Flora, because she was so fresh 
and lovely ; at the time of his second marriage she was 
quite fifteen years old. The new queen also had a 
daughter, who was being brought up by her godmother, 
the fairy Soussio; her name was Troutina, because 
her complexion was all spotted like a trout’s back. 
Indeed, she was altogether ugly and disagreeable ; and 
when contrasted with Fiorina, the difference between 
the two made the mother so envious that she and 
Troutina spared no pains to make the princess’s life 
unhappy, and to speak ill of her to her father. 

One day the king observed that both girls were now 
old enough to be married, and that he intended to 
choose for one of them the first prince who visited his 
court. 

Be it so,” said the queen ; and as my daughter 
is older, handsomer, and more amiable than yours, she 
shall have the first choice. The king disputed noth- 
ing; indeed, he never did — the queen ruled him in 
all things. 

Some time after, news came that King Charming 


318 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


would shortly arrive, and that he was as charming 
as his name. When the queen heard this news, she 
sent for milliners, dressmakers, jewellers, and decked 
Troutina from head to foot ; but to Fiorina she allowed 
not a single new frock. The poor princess had to put 
on her old one, which was very old and shabby indeed ; 
she was so much ashamed of it that she hid herself in 
a corner of the saloon, lest King Charming should see 
her. But he did not, being overwhelmed with the 
ceremonious reception given him by the queen, who 
presented to him Troutina, all blazing with jewels, yet 
so ugly that King Charming involuntarily tnrned away 
his eyes. 

But, madam, is there not another princess, called 
Fiorina ? ’’ 

They pointed to the corner where Fiorina was hidden, 
and she came out, blushing so much that the young 
king was dazzled with her beauty, in spite of her 
shabby gown. He rose and made her a profound 
reverence, paying her besides so many elegant com- 
pliments that the queen became very much displeased. 
King Charming took no heed, but conversed with 
Fiorina for three hours without stopping. Indeed, his 
admiration of her was so plain that the qneen and 
Troutina begged of the king that she might be shut up 
in a tower during the whole time of his visit ; so as 
soon as she had returned to her apartment, four men 
in masks entered and carried her off, leaving her in a 
dark cell, and in the utmost desolation. 

Meantime King Charming eagerly awaited her 
reappearance, but he saw her no more ; and by the 
(pieen’s orders every one about him spoke all the 
evil they could of poor Fiorina, but he refused to 
believe one word. • No,” said he, nature could not 
have united a base nature to such a sweet innocent 
face. I will rather suppose that she is maligned by 


THE BLUE BIRD. 


319 


her stepmother and by Troutina, who is so ugly her- 
self that no wonder she bears envy towards the fair- 
est woman in the world. 

Meanwhile Fiorina, shut up in her tower, lamented 
bitterly. Ah, would I had been sent here before I 
saw this amiable prince, who was so kind to me ! It 
is to prevent my meeting him again that the queen 
treats me so cruelly. Alas ! the little beauty I have 
has cost me sore ! ” 

The queen, to win King Charming for her daughter, 
made him many presents ; among the rest an order of 
knighthood, a golden heart enamelled in flame-color, 
surrounded with many arrows, but pierced by one 
only, the motto being “ She^ alone” The heart was 
made of a single ruby, as big as an ostrich’s egg. 
Each arrow was a diamond, a finger’s length, and the 
chain was of pearls, each weighing a pound. When 
the young king received this very handsome present, 
he was much perplexed, until they told him it came 
from the princess whom he had lately seen, and who 
requested him to be her knight. 

Fiorina ! ” cried he, enchanted. 

Ko, Troutina.” 

Then I am sorry I cannot accept the honor,” 
replied King Charming. A monarch is surely at 
liberty to form his own engagements. I know what 
is a knight’s duty to his lady, and should wish to 
fulfil it ; as I cannot fulfil it to Troutina, I would 
rather decline the favor she offers me than become 
unworthy of it.” 

Civil as this answer was, it irritated the queen and 
her daughter exceedingly ; and when, since in all his 
audiences with their majesties he never saw Fiorina, 
he at last inquired where the younger princess was, the 
queen answered fiercely that she was shut up in prison, 
and would remain there till Troutina was married. 


320 


THE FAIKY BOOK. 


And for what reason ? ” asked King Charming. 

I do not know ; and if I did I would not tell you/’ 
replied the queen more angrily than ever ; so that 
King Charming quitted her presence as soon as ever 
he could. 

When he was alone he sent for one of his attend- 
ants, whom he trusted very much, and begged him 
to gain inf ormation ‘ from some court lady about the 
Princess Plorina. This scheme succeeded so well that 
Fiorina was persuaded to promise she would speak 
to him for a few moments next night, from a small 
window at the bottom of the tower. But the faithless 
lady-in-waiting betrayed her to the queen, who locked 
her up in her chamber, and determined to send her 
own daughter to the window instead. The night was 
so dark that King Charming never found out the dif- 
ference, but made to Troutina all the tender speeches 
that he meant for Fiorina, offering her his crown and 
his heart and ending by placing his own ring on her 
finger as a pledge of eternal fidelity. He also made 
her agree to fiy with him next night, in a chariot 
drawn by winged frogs, of which a great magician, one 
of his friends, had made him a present. He thought 
she talked very little, and that little not in quite so 
pleasant a voice as formerly ; still he was too much 
in love to notice much, and departed very joyful in 
having obtained her promise. 

Next night Troutina, thickly veiled, quitted the 
palace by a secret door. King Charming met her, 
received her in his arms, and vowed to love her for- 
ever. Then he lifted her into the fairy chariot, and 
they sailed about in the air for some hours. But as 
he was not likely to wish to sail about forever, he at 
last proposed that they should descend to earth and 
be married. Troutina agreed with all her heart, but 
wished that the ceremony should be performed at her 


THE BLUE BIBD. 


321 


godmother’s, the fairy Soussio. So they entered to- 
gether into the fairy palace, and she told her god- 
mother privately how all had happened, and how she 
had won King Charming, begging the fairy to pacify 
him when he found out his mistake. 

My child,” replied the godmother, that is more 
easily said than done ; he is too deeply in love with 
Fiorina.” 

Meantime the king was left waiting in a chamber 
with diamond walls so thin and transparent that 
through them he saw Troutina and Soussio conversing 
together. He stood like a man in a dream : What ! 
am I betrayed ? Has this enemy to my peace carried 
away my dear Fiorina ? ” 

How great was his despair when Soussio said to 
him ill a commanding voice, King Charming, behold 
the princess Troutina, to whom you have promised 
your faith ; marry her immediately ! ” 

‘‘ Do you think me a fool ? ” cried the king. “ I 
have promised her nothing. She is — ” 

Stop — if you show me any disrespect — ” 

I will respect you as much as a fairy deserves to 
be respected, if you will only give me back my 
princess.” 

Am not I she ? ” said Troutina. It was to me 
you gave this ring ; to me you spoke at the window.” 

I have been wickedly deceived ! ” cried the king. 
^^Come, my winged frogs, we will depart immediately.” 

You cannot,” said Soussio ; and, touching him, he 
found himself fixed as if his feet were glued to the 
pavement. 

“ You may turn me into stone,” exclaimed he, 
but I will love no one except Fiorina.” 

Soussio employed persuasions, threats, promises, 
entreaties. Troutina wept, groaned, shrieked, and 
then tried quiet sulkiness ; but the king uttered not a 


322 


THE FAIKY BOOK. 


word. Eor twenty days and twenty nights he stood 
there, without sleeping, or eating, or once sitting down 
— they talking all the while. 

At length Soussio, quite worn out, said, Choose 
seven years of penitence and punishment, or marry 
my goddaughter.” 

I choose,” answered the king ; and I will not 
marry your goddaughter.” 

“ Then flv out of this window in the shape of a 
Blue Bird.”*' 

Immediately the king’s figure changed. His arms 
formed themselves into wings ; his legs and feet turned 
black and thin, and claws grew upon them ; his body 
wasted into the slender shape of a bird, and was 
covered with bright blue feathers ; his eyes became 
round and beady ; his nose an ivory beak ; and his 
crown was a white plume on the top of his head. He 
began to speak in a singing voice, and then, uttering a 
doleful cry, fled away as far as possible from the fatal 
palace of Soussio. 

But, though he looked only a Blue Bird, the king 
was his own natural self still, and remembered all his 
misfortunes, and did not cease to lament for his beau- 
tiful Blorina. Flying from tree to tree, he sang mel- 
ancholy songs about her and himself, and wished he 
were dead many a time. 

The fairy Soussio sent back Troutina to her mother, 
who was furious. Fiorina shall repent having 
pleased King Charming ! ” cried she ; and dressing 
her own daughter in rich garments, with a gold crown 
on her head and King Charming’s ring on her finger, 
she took her to the tower. Fiorina, your sister is 
come to see and bring you marriage presents, for she 
is now the wife of King Charming.” 

Fiorina, doubting no more her lover’s loss, fell 
down in a swoon, and the queen immediately went to 


THE BLUE BIED. 


323 


tell her father that she was mad for love, and must 
be watched closely lest she should in some way dis- 
grace herself. The king said her stepmother might 
do with her exactly what she pleased. 

When the princess recovered from her swoon she 
began to weep, and wept all night long, sitting at the 
open window of her tower. The Blue Bird, who kept 
continually flying about the palace, but only at night 
time, lest any one should see him, happened to come 
and perch upon a tall cypress opposite the window, 
and heard her; but it was too dark to see who she 
was, and at daylight she shut the window. Next 
night it was broad moonlight, and then he saw clearly 
the figure of a young girl, weeping sore, and knew 
that it was his beloved Fiorina. 

When she paused in her lamentations, ^‘Adorable 
princess,’’ said he, why do you mourn ? Your 
troubles are not without remedy.” 

‘‘ Who speaks to me so gently ? ” asked she. 

A king who loves you, and will never love any 
other.” 

So saying he flew up to the window, and at first 
frightened the princess very much, for she could not 
understand such an extraordinary thing as a bird who 
talked in words like a man, yet kept still the piping 
voice of a nightingale. But soon she began stroking 
his beautiful plumage, and caressing him. 

“ Who are you, charming bird ? ” 

You have spoken my name. I am King Charm- 
ing, condemned to be a bird for seven years, because 
I will not renounce you.” 

Ah ! do not deceive me. I know you have mar- 
ried Troutina. She came to visit me with your dia- 
monds on her neck and your ring on her finger, 
wearing the golden crown and royal mantle which you 
had given hei>while I was laden with iron chains.” 


324 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


It is all false/’ sang the Blue Bird, and told her 
his whole story, which comforted her so much that 
she thought no more of her misfortunes. They con- 
versed till daybreak, and promised faithfully every 
night to meet again thus. 

Meantime the princess could not sleep for thinking 
of her Blue Bird. Suppose sportsmen should shoot 
him, or eagles and kites attack him, and vultures 
devour him, just as if he were a mere bird and not a 
great king ? What should I do if I saw his poor 
feathers scattered on the ground, and knew that he 
was no more ? ” So she grieved all day long. 

The beautiful Blue Bird, hid in a hollow tree, spent 
the hours in thinking of his princess. How happy 
I am to have found her again, and found her so en- 
gaging and so sweet ! ” And as he wished to pay her 
all the attentions that a lover delights in, he flew to 
his own kingdom, entered his palace by an open win- 
dow, and sought for some diamond ear-rings, which 
he brought back in his beak, and, when night came, 
offered them to Fiorina. So night after night he 
brought her something beautiful, and they talked 
together till day, when he flew back to the hollow 
tree, where he sang her praises in a voice so sweet 
that the passers-by thought it was not a bird, but a 
spirit. Rumors went about that the place was 
haunted, and no one would go near the spot. Thus 
for two years Fiorina spent her time, and never once 
regretted her captivity. Her Blue Bird visited her 
every night, and they loved one another dearly. 
And though she saw nobody, and he lived in the hol- 
low of a tree, they always found plenty to say to one 
another. 

The malicious queen tried with all her might to 
get Troutina married, but in vain. Nobody would 
have her, If it were Fiorina now,” ^aid the kings, 


THE BLUE BIKD. 


:\25 

or the kings’ ambassadors, we should be most happy 
to sign the contract.” 

That girl thwarts ns still,” said the queen. “ She 
must have some secret correspondence with foreign 
suitors. But we will find her out and punish her.” 

The ntother and daughter finished talking so late 
that it was midnight before they reached Fiorina’s 
apartment. She had dressed herself as usual, with 
the utmost care, to please her Blue Bird, who liked to 
see her lovely ; and she had adorned herself with all 
the pretty things he had given her. He perched on the 
window-sill and she sat at the window, and they were 
singing together a duet which the queen heard out- 
side. She burst the door open and rushed into the 
chamber. 

The first thing Fiorina did was to open her little 
window that the Blue Bird might fly away. But he 
would not. He had seen the queen and Troutina, and 
though he could not defend his princess, he refused to 
leave her. The two rushed upon her like furies. 
Her wonderful beauty and her splendid jewels star- 
tled them. Whence came all these ornaments ? ” 
cried they. 

‘‘ I found them,” replied Fiorina, and refused to an- 
swer more. 

Some one has given them to you, that you might 
join in treason against your father and the kingdom.” 

Am I likely to do this ? I, a poor princess, kept 
in captivity for two years with you as my gaoler ? ” 

In captivity ! ” repeated the queen. “ Why, then, 
do you dress yourself so fine, and adorn your chamber 
with flowers ? ” 

I have leisure enough ; I may just as well spend 
some of it in adorning myself, instead of bemoaning 
my misfortune — innocent as I am.” 

“ Innocent, indeed ! ” cried the queen, and began to 


326 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


search the room. In it she found all King Charming’s 
presents — diamonds, rubies, emeralds, amethysts ; in 
short, jewels without end. Meantime from the win- 
dow the Blue Bird, who had the eye of a lynx, sang 
aloud, Beware, Fiorina ! ” 

You see, madam,” said Fiorina, even the spirits 
of the air take pity upon me.” 

‘‘ I see that you are in league with demons ; but 
your father shall judge you ; ” and, very much fright- 
ened, the queen left her, and went to hold counsel 
with Troutina as to what was to be done. They 
agreed to put in Fiorina’s chamber a waiting-maid, 
who should watch her from morning till night. When 
the princess learned this she was in great grief. 

Alas ! ” cried she, I can no longer talk with my 
bird who loves me so ; and our love was consolation for 
all our misfortunes. What will he do ? What shall 
I do ? ” And she melted into floods of tears. 

She dared not open the window, though she heard 
continually his wings fluttering round it. For more 
than a month she waited ; but the serving-maid 
watched her night and day. At last, overcome with 
weariness, the girl fell asleep, and then Fiorina opened 
her little window and sang in a low voice ; 

“ Blue Bird, Blue Bird, 

Come to my side.” 

The Blue Bird flew to the window-sill, and they 
lavished on one another a hundred caresses, and 
talked together till dawn. Next night it happened 
the same, till they began to hope that the waiting- 
maid, who seemed to enjoy her sleep so much, would 
sleep every night to come. But on the third night, 
hearing a noise, she wakened and saw by the light of 
the moon the Princess Fiorina sitting at the window 
with a beautiful Blue Bird, who warbled in her ear 


THE BLUE BIRD. 


327 


and touched her gently with his beak. The spy lis- 
tened and heard all their conversation, very much aston- 
ished that a princess could be so fond of a mere bird. 
When day came she related all to the queen and Trou- 
tina, who concluded that the bird could be no other 
than King Charming. They sent the girl back, told 
her to express mo curiosity, but to feign sleep, and to 
go to bed earlier than usual. Then the poor deceived 
princess opened her little window, and sang her usual 
song : 

“ Blue Bird, Blue Bird, 

Come to my side.” 

But no Blue Bird appeared. The queen had caused 
sharp knives to be hung outside the hollow of the tree ; 
he flew against them and cut his feet and wings, till 
he dropped down covered with blood. 

Oh, Fiorina, come to my help ! ’’ sighed he. “ But 
she is dead, I know, and I will die also.” 

At that moment his friend the magician, who, since 
he had seen the chariot with flying frogs return with- 
out King Charming, had gone eight times round the 
world in search of him, made his ninth journey, and 
came to the tree where the poor Blue Bird lay, calling 
out, “ King Charming, King Charming ! ” 

The king recognized the voice of his best friend ; 
whereupon the magician took him out of the hollow 
tree, healed his wounds, and heard all his history. 
He persuaded King Charming that, overcome with 
fear and cruel treatment, Fiorina must have betrayed 
him. 

Then do as you will with me ! cried the king. 

Put me into a cage and take me back with you. I 
shall at least be safe there for the five years that are 
to be endured.’^ 

But,’^ said the enchanter, can you remain five 


328 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


years in so undignified a position ? And you have 
enemies who will assuredly seize on your kingdom^’ 
Why can I not return and govern it as before ? ’’ 

I fear,” replied his friend, that the thing is 
difficult. Who would obey a Blue Bird ? ” 

Ah, that is too true ! ” cried the king sadly. 
‘^People only judge by the outside.”. 

Meantime Fiorina, overcome with grief, fell dan- 
gerously sick, and in her sickness she kept singing, 
day and night, her little song: 

“ Blue Bird, Blue Bird, 

Come to my side.” 

But no one regarded her. 

At last a sudden change took place in her fortunes. 
The king her father died, and the people, who knew 
she was his heir, began to inquire, with one accord, 
where was the Princess Fiorina. They assailed the 
palace in crowds, demanding her for their sovereign. 
The riot became so dangerous that Troutina and her 
mother fled away to the fairy Soussio. Then the 
populace stormed the tower, rescued the sick and 
almost dying princess, and crowned her as their 
queen. 

The exceeding care that was taken of her, and her 
longing to live in order to see again her Blue Bird, 
restored Fiorina’s health, and gave her strength to 
call a council and arrange all the affairs of her king- 
dom. Then she departed by night and alone, to go 
over the world in search of her Blue Bird. 

The magician, who was King Charming’s friend, 
went to the fairy Soussio, whom he knew, for they 
had quarrelled and made it up again, as fairies and 
magicians do, many times within the last five or six 
hundred years. She received him civilly, and aske^^ 


THE BLUE BIRD. 


329 


him what hp wanted. He tried to make a bargain 
with her, but could effect nothing, unless King Charm- 
ing would consent to marry Troutina. The enchanter 
found this bride so ugly that he could not advise. 
Still, the Blue Bird had run so many risks in his 
cage ; the nail it was hung upon had broken, and the 
king suffered much in the fall ; Minetta, the cat, had 
glowered at him with her green eyes ; the attendants 
had forgotten his hemp-seed and his water-glass, so 
that he was half dying of hunger and thirst ; and a 
monkey had plucked at his feathers through the wires 
as disrespectfully as if, instead of a king, he had been 
a linnet or a jay. Worse than all, his next heir spread 
reports of his death, and threatened to seize on his 
throne. 

Under these circumstances the magician thought it 
best to agree with Soussio that King Charming should 
be restored to his kingdom and his natural shape for 
six months, on condition that Troutina should remain 
in his palace, and that he should try to like her and 
marry her. If not, he was to become again a Blue 
Bird. So he found himself once more King Charm- 
ing, and as charming as ever; but he would rather 
have been a bird, and near his beloved, than a king in 
the society of Troutina. The enchanter gave him the 
best reasons for what he had done, and advised him 
to occupy himself with the affairs of his kingdom and 
people ; but he thought less of these things than how 
to escape from the horror of marrying Troutina. 

Meanwhile the Queen Fiorina, in a peasant’s dress, 
with a straw hat on her head and a canvas sack on 
her shoulder, began her journey : sometimes on horse- 
back, sometimes on foot, sometimes by sea, sometimes 
by land, wandering evermore after her beloved King 
Charming. One day, stopping beside a fountain, she 
her hair fall loose, and dipped her weary feet in 


330 


THE FAIRY BOOK:. 


the cool water, when an old woman, bent and leaning 
on a stick, came by. 

My pretty maiden, what are you doing here all 
alone ? 

Good mother,” replied the queen, ‘‘ I have too 
many troubles to be pleasant company for anybody.” 

Tell me your troubles, and I may be able to soften 

them. ” 

Fiorina obeyed, and told her whole history, and 
how she was travelling over the world in search of the 
Blue Bird. The little woman listened attentively, and 

then, in the twinkling of an eye, became, instead of 
an old woman, a beautiful fairy. 

Incomparable Fiorina, the king you seek is no 
longer a bird ; my sister Soussio has restored him to 
his proper shape, and he reigns in his own kingdom. 
Do not afflict yourself ; happiness will yet be yours. 
Take these four eggs, and whenever you are in trouble 
break them, and see what ensues.” So saying, the 
fairy vanished. 

Fiorina, greatly comforted, put the eggs in her sack, 
and turned her steps towards the country of King 
Charming. She walked eight days and nights without 
stopping, and then came to a mountain made entirely 
of ivory, and nearly perpendicular. Despairing of 
ever climbing it, she sank down at the foot, prepared 
to die there, when she bethought herself of the eggs. 

Let me see,” said she, “ if the fairy has deceived me 
or not.” So she broke one, and inside it were little 
hooks of gold which she fitted on her feet and hands, 
and by means of which she climbed the mountain with 
ease. Arrived at the summit, she found new difficulties, 
for the valley below was one large smooth mirror, in 
which sixty thousand women stood admiring them- 
selves. They had need, for the charm of the mirror 
was that each saw herself therein, not as she was, but 


THE BLUE BIRD. 


381 


as she wished to he ; and the grimaces they made were 
enough to cause a person to die of laughter. Not one 
of them had ever gained the top of the mountain ; and 
when they saw Fiorina there, they all burst into angry 
outcries, How has this woman got up the hill ? If 
she descends upon our mirror her first footstep will 
crack it into a thousand pieces.’’ 

The queen, uncertain what to do, broke the second 
egg, and there flew out two pigeons harnessed to a fine 
chariot, in which Fiorina mounted, and descended 
lightly over the mirror to the valley’s foot. Now, 
my pretty pigeons,” said she, will you convey me to 
the palace of King Charming ? ” The obedient 
pigeons did so, flying day and night till they reached 
the city gates ; when the queen dismissed them 
with a sweet kiss, which was worth more than her 
crown. 

How her heart beat as she entered, and begged to 
see the king ! You ! ” cried the servants, mocking. 

Little peasant girl, your eyes are not half good 
enough to see the king. Besides, he is going to- 
morrow to the temple with the princess Troutina, 
whom he has at last agreed to marry.” 

Fiorina sat down on a doorstep, and hid her face 
under her straw hat and her drooping hair. Alas ! ” 
she cried, “ my Blue Bird has forsaken me.” 

She neither ate nor slept, but rose with the dawn, 
and pushed her way through the guards to the temple, 
where she saw two thrones, one for King Charming 
and the other for Troutina. They arrived shortly ; he 
more charming and she more repulsive than ever. 
Knitting her brows, Troutina exclaimed, What 
creature is that who dares approach so near my golden 
throne ? ” 

I am a poor peasant girl,” said Fiorina. I 
come from afar to sell you curiosities.” And she 


332 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


took out of her sack the emerald bracelets which the 
Blue Bird had given her. 

‘‘ These are pretty trinkets/’ said Troutina ; and 
going up to the king she asked him what he thought 
of them. At sight of the ornaments he turned pale, 
remembering those he had given to Morina. 

These bracelets are worth half my kingdom ; I 
did not think there had been more than one pair in 
the world.” 

Then I will buy these,” said Troutina ; but 
Fiorina refused to sell them for money ; the price she 
asked was permission to sleep a night in the Chamber 
of Echoes. 

As you will ; your bargains are cheap enough,” 
replied Troutina, laughing ; and when she laughed 
she showed teeth like the tusks of a wild boar. 

Now the king, when he was a Blue Bird, had in- 
formed Fiorina about this Chamber of Echoes, where 
every word spoken could be heard in his own 
chamber. She could not have chosen a better way of 
reproaching him for his infidelity. But vain were 
her sobs and complainings ; the king had taken opium 
to lull his grief ; he slept soundly all night long. 
Next day Fiorina was in great disquietude. Could 
he have really heard her, and been indifferent to her 
sorrow ; or had he not heard her at all ? She deter- 
mined to buy another night in the Chamber of 
Echoes ; but she had no more jewels to tempt 
Troutina ; so she broke the third egg. Out of it 
came a chariot of polished steel, inlaid with gold, 
drawn by six green mice, the coachman being a rose- 
colored rat, and the postilion a gray one. Inside the 
carriage sat little puppets, who behaved themselves 
just like live ladies and gentlemen. 

When Troutina went to walk in the palace garden, 
Fiorina awaited her in a green alley, and made the 


THE BLUE BIRD. 


333 


mice gallop, and the ladies and gentlemen bow, till 
the princess was delighted, and ready to buy the 
curiosity at any price. Again Fiorina exacted per- 
mission to pass the night in the Chamber of Echoes ; 
and again the king, undisturbed by her lamentation, 
slept without waking till dawn. 

The third day one of the palace valets, passing her 
by, said, ‘‘ You stupid peasant girl, it is well the king 
takes opium every night, or you would disturb him 
by that terrible sobbing of yours.” 

‘‘ Does he so ? ” said the queen, now cdmprehend- 
ing all. “ Then if you will promise to-night to keep 
the opium cup out of his way, these pearls and 
diamonds,” and she took a handful of them out of 
her sack, shall assuredly be yours.” 

The valet promised ; and then Fiorina broke her 
fourth egg, out of which came a pie composed of 
birds, which, though they had been plucked, baked, 
and made ready for the table, sang as beautifully as 
birds that are alive. Troutina, charmed with this 
marvellous novelty, bought it at the same price as the 
rest, adding generously a small piece of gold. 

When all the palace were asleep, Fiorina for the 
last time, hoping King Charming would hear her, 
called upon him with all sorts of tender expressions, 
reminding him of their former vows and their two 
years of happiness. ‘‘ What have I done to thee, 
that thou shouldst forget me and marry Troutina ? ” 
sobbed she ; and the king, who this time was wide 
awake, heard her. He could not make out whose 
voice it was or whence it came, but it somehow 
reminded him of his dearest Fiorina, whom he had 
never ceased to love. He called his valet, inquired 
who was sleeping in the Chamber of Echoes, and 
heard that it was the little peasant girl who had sold 
to Troutina the emerald bracelet. Then he rose up, 


334 


THE FAIKY BOOK. 


dressed himself hastily, and went in search of her. 
She was sitting mournfully on the floor, with her hair 
hiding her face, and her eyes swollen with tears ; but 
he knew at once his faithful Fiorina. He fell on his 
knees before her, covered her hands with kisses, and 
they embraced and wept together. For what was the 
good of all their love when they were still in the 
power of the fairy Soussio ? 

But at this moment appeared the friendly enchanter, 
with a fairy still greater than Soussio, the one who 
had given 'Fiorina the four eggs. They declared that 
their united power was stronger than Soussio’s, and 
that the lovers should be married without further 
delay. 

When this news reached Troutina, she ran to the 
Chamber of Echoes, and there beheld her beautiful 
rival, whom she had so cruelly afflicted. But the 
moment she opened her mouth to speak, her wicked 
tongue was silenced forever ; for the magician turned 
her into a trout, which he flung out of window into 
the stream that flowed through the castle garden. 

As for King Charming and Queen Fiorina, delivered 
out of all their sorrows and given to one another, 
their joy was quite inexpressible, and it lasted to the 
end of their lives. 


Note. — It will be seen that this tale, which is from the French, bears a 
curious resemblance to Grimm’s story of “ The Iron Stove,” except that the 
latter retains a brevity and German simplicity not found here. This family, 
likeness may be traced in the fairy tales of all countries. I merely refer to 
it to show that the repetition of incidents was not unobserved or uninten- 
tional. — Editor. 


THE YELLOW DWAEF. 


335 


THE YELLOW DWAEE. 

There was once a queen who had been the mother 
of several children, but all were dead except one 
daughter, of whom she was excessively fond, humor- 
ing and indulging her in all her ways and wishes. 
This princess was so extremely beautiful that she 
was called All-Fair, and twenty kings were, at one 
time, paying their addresses to her. She had so 
many lovers, indeed, that she did not know which to 
choose, and refused them all. Her mother, being 
advanced in years, was anxious to see her married and 
settled before she died; but as no entreaties could 
prevail, she determined to go to the Desert Fairy to 
ask advice concerning her stubborn daughter. 

Now, this fairy being guarded by two fierce lions, 
the queen made a cake of millet, sugar-candy, and 
crocodiles’ eggs, in order to appease their fury and 
pass by them ; and having thus provided herself, she 
set out. After''travelling some time she found herself 
weary, and lying down under a tree fell asleep. 
When she awoke she heard the roaring of the lions 
which guarded the fairy, and on looking for her cake 
she found it was gone. This threw her into the 
utmost agony, as she felt sure she should be devoured ; 
when, hearing somebody approach, she raised her eyes, 
and saw in a tree a little yellow man half a yard high, 
picking and eating oranges. 

Ah, queen,” said the Yellow Dwarf, for so he 
was called on account of his complexion and the 
orange-tree in which he lived, how will you escape 
the lions ? There is but one way; I know what busi- 
ness brought you here ; promise me your daughter in 
marriage and I will save you.” 

The queen, though she could not look without 


336 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


horror upon so frightful a figure, was forced to con- 
sent; and having agreed to the terms proposed, she 
instantly found herself in her own palace, and all that 
had passed seemed much like a dream ; nevertheless 
she was so thoroughly persuaded of the reality of it 
that she became melancholy. 

The young princess, being unable to learn the cause 
of her mother’s dejection, resolved in her turn to go 
and inquire of the Desert Fairy ; and accordingly, 
having prepared a cake for the lions, she also set off 
on the same journey. It happened that All-Fair took 
exactly the route her mother had done before her ; 
and coming to the fatal tree which was loaded with 
oranges, she felt inclined to pick some ; therefore, lay- 
ing down her basket in which she carried the cake, 
she plentifully indulged herself with the delicious 
fruit. 

The lions now began to roar ; All-Fair, looking for 
her cake, was thrown into the utmost despair to find 
it gone; and as she was lamenting her deplorable 
situation, the Yellow Dwarf presented himself to her 
with these words : Lovely princess, dry your tears 
and hear what I am going to say. You need not pro- 
ceed to the Desert Fairy to know the reason of. your 
mother’s indisposition ; it is this : she is ungenerous 
enough to repent having promised you, her only 
daughter, to me in marriage — ” 

How ! ” interrupted the princess ; my mother 
promised me to you in marriage ! You ! Such a 
fright as you ! ” 

Hone of your scoffs ! ” returned the Yellow Dwarf ; 
warn you not to rouse my anger. If you will 
promise to marry me, I will be the tenderest and most 
loving husband in the world; if not, save yourself 
from the lions if you can.” 

The princess, overcome with terror, gave the prom- 



“Save voukself from the Lions if you can.” 


4 


V 





THE YELLOW ‘DWARF. 


33T 


ise ; but such was the agony of her mind that she 
fell into a swoon, and when she recovered she found 
herself in her own bed, finely adorned with ribbons, 
with a ring of a single red hair so fastened round her 
finger that it could not be got off. 

This adventure had the same effect upon All-Fair as 
the former one had had upon her mother. She grew 
melancholy, which was remarked and wondered at by 
the whole court. The best way to divert her, they 
thought, would be to urge her to marry ; which the 
princess, who was now become less obstinate on that 
point than formerly, consented to. Trusting that such 
a pigmy as the Yellow Dwarf would not dare to con- 
tend with so gallant a person as the King of the 
Golden Mines, she fixed upon that prince for her hus- 
band. He was exceedingly rich and powerful, and 
loved her to distraction. The most superb prepara- 
tions were made for the nuptials, and the happy day 
was fixed, when, as they were’ proceeding to the cere- 
mony, they saw moving towards them a box, upon 
which sat an old woman remarkable for her ugliness. 

Hold, queen and princess ! ’’ cried she, knitting 
her brows ; remember the promises you have both 
made to my friend the Yellow Dwarf. I am the 
Desert Fairy ; and unless All-Fair consent to marry 
him, I solemnly swear to burn my crutch.’’ 

The queen and princess were struck almost motion- 
less by this imexpected address of the fairy ; but the 
Prince of the Golden Mines was exceeding angry, and 
holding his sword to her throat, he said, Fly, wretch ! 
or thy malice shall cost thee thy life.” 

No sooner had he uttered these words than the top 
of the box flying off, out came the Yellow Dwarf, 
mounted upon a large Spanish cat. Placing himself 
between the king and the fairy, he exclaimed, Rash 
youth ! thy rage shall be levelled at me, not at the 


338 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Desert Fairy. I am thy rival, and claim thy princess, 
who is fast bound to me by her own promise, her 
mother’s, and the single red hair that you see round 
her finger.” 

This so enraged the king that he cried out, Con- 
temptible creature ! wert thou worthy of notice, I 
would sacrifice thee for thy presumption.” 

The Yellow Dwarf, clapping spurs to his cat and 
drawing a cutlass, now defied the king to combat; 
and down they went into the courtyard. The sun 
was immediately turned as red as blood, the air 
became dark, it thundered heavily, and the flashes 
of lightning discovered two giants vomiting fire on 
each side of the Yellow Dwarf. The king behaved 
with such undaunted courage as to give the dwarf 
great trouble ; but he was dismayed when he saw the 
Desert Fairy, mounted on a winged griffin, and with 
her head covered with snakes, strike the princess so 
hard with a lance that she fell into the queen’s arms, 
covered with blood. He immediately left the com- 
bat to go to the relief of his beloved, but the dwarf 
was too quick for him ; and flying on his Spanish cat 
to the balcony where she was, he took her from her 
mother’s arms, leaped with her upon the top of the 
palace, and immediately disappeared. 

As the king stood confused and astonished at this 
strange adventure, he suddenly found a mist before 
his eyes, and felt himself lifted up in the air by some 
extraordinary power ; for the Desert Fairy had fallen 
in love with him. To secure him for herself, there- 
fore, she carried him to a frightful cavern, hoping he 
would there forget All-Fair. But finding this scheme 
ineffectual, she resolved to carry him to a place 
altogether as pleasant as the other was terrible ; and 
accordingly placed him in a chariot drawn by swans. 
In passing through the air^ he was unspeakably 


THE YELLOW DWARF. 


339 


surprised to see his beloved princess in a castle 
of polished steel, leaning her head on one hand, and 
wiping away her tears with the other. She happened 
to look up, and had the mortification to see the king 
sitting by the fairy, who then, by her art, made her- 
self appear extremely beautiful. Had not the king 
been sensible of the fairy’s power, he would certainly 
have tried to free himself from her by some means or 
other; but he knew it would be in vain, and therefore 
made believe to have a liking for her. At last they 
came to a stately palace, fenced on one side by walls 
of emeralds and on the other by a boisterous sea. The 
king, by pretending an attachment to the fairy, 
obtained the liberty to walk by himself on the shore. 
There, one day, he heard a voice, and presently after 
was surprised by the appearance of a mermaid, who, 
swimming up to him with a pleasing smile, spoke to 
this effect : 0 King of the Golden Mines, I well 

know all that has befallen you and the Princess All- 
Fair. Do not suspect this to be a contrivance of the 
fairy to try you, for I am an inveterate enemy both 
to her and the Yellow Dwarf ; therefore, if you will 
place confidence in me, I will lend you my assistance 
to procure the release, not only of yourself, but of All- 
Fair also.” 

The overjoyed king promised to do whatever the 
mermaid should direct, and seating himself by her 
desire upon her fish’s tail, they sailed away together 
over the rolling sea. 

When they had sailed some time, Now,” said the 
mermaid to the king, we are approaching the place 
where your princess is kept prisoner by the Yellow 
Dwarf. You will have many enemies to fight before 
you can come to her ; take, therefore, this sword, with 
which you may overcome everything, provided you 
never let it go out of your hand.” 


340 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


The king returned her all the thanks that the most 
grateful heart could suggest ; and the mermaid landed 
-ind took leave of him, promising him further assist- 
ance when necessary. The king boldly advanced, and, 
meeting with two terrible sphinxes, laid them dead at 
bis feet with the sword. Next he attacked six drag- 
ons that opposed him, and despatched them also. 
Then he met four-and-twenty nymphs, crowned with 
garlands of flowers, at the sight of whom he stopped, 
being unwilling to destroy so much beauty ; when he 
heard a voice say, Strike ! strike ! or you lose your 
princess forever ! ” So he threw himself into the 
midst of the nymphs, smiting right and left, and soon 
dispersed them. 

Presently he came to the castle where was im- 
prisoned the Princess All-Fair. 0 my princess,’’ 
exclaimed he, behold your faithful lover ! ” 

“ Faithful lover ! ” she replied, drawing herself 
back. “ Did I not see you passing through the air 
with a beautiful nymph ? Were you faithful then ? ” 

Yes,” replied the king, I was. That was the 
detested Desert Fairy, who was carrying me to a 
place where I must have languished out all my days, 
had it not been for a kind mermaid, by whose assist- 
ance it is that I am now come to release you.” 
Having uttered these words, he threw himself at her 
feet ; but, catching hold of her gown, he unfortunately 
let go the magic sword, which the Yellow Dwarf no 
sooner discovered than, leaping from behind a shrub 
where he had been concealed, he ran and seized it. 
By two cabalistical words he then conjured up a 
couple of giants, who laid the king in irons. 

Now,” said the Dwarf, my rival’s fate is in my 
own hands ; however, if he will consent to my mar- 
riage with the Princess All-Fair, he shall have his life 
and liberty.” 


THE SIX SWANS. 


341 


No,” said the king, “ I scorn thy favor on such 
terms.” 

The Dwarf was so exasperated by this reply that he 
instantly stabbed the king to the heart. The discon- 
solate princess stood a moment petrified, and then 
exclaimed, Thou hideous creature ! Since entreaties 
could not avail thee, perhaps thou now reliest upon 
force ; but thou shalt be disappointed. I will die for 
the love I have for the King of the Golden Mines ! ” 
and so saying she sank down upon his body and ex- 
pired without a sigh. 

Thus ended the fate of these two faithful lovers, 
whom the mermaid very much regretted ; but as all 
her power lay in the sword, she could only change 
them into two palm-trees, which, preserving a con- 
stant and mutual affection, still fondly unite their 
branches together. 


THE SIX SWANS. 

Once upon a time a king, hunting in a great 
forest, chased a wild boar so eagerly that none of 
his people could follow him. When evening came he 
stopped to look about him, and saw that he had lost 
himself. He sought everywhere for a way out of the 
wood, but could find none. Then he perceived com- 
ing towards him an old woman, whose head kept 
constantly shaking. She was a witch. 

a My good woman,” said he to her, cannot you 
show me the way through the wood ? ” 

Oh, yes, your majesty,” answered she, “ that I can, 
but only on one condition, and if you do not agree to 
it you will never get out, and must die here of 
hunger.” 

What is the condition ? ” asked the king. 


842 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


‘‘ I have an only daughter,” said the old woman ; 
she is as beautiful as any one you could find in 
the wide world, and well deserves to be your wife ; if 
you will make her your queen, I will show you the 
way out of the wood.” 

The king, in the fear of his heart, consented, and the 
old woman led him to her house, where her daughter 
sat by the fire. She received the king as if she had 
expected him, and he saw that she was very beautiful ; 
but still she did not please him, and he could not 
look at her without a secret shudder. After he had 
lifted up the maiden beside him on his horse, the old 
woman showed him the way, and the king arrived 
again at his royal castle, where the wedding was cele- 
brated. 

He had been married once before, and had by his first 
wife seven children, six boys and a girl, whom he 
loved more than anything in the world. But, because 
he was afraid that the stepmother might not treat 
them well, or might even do them some harm, he 
took them to a lonely castle which stood in the middle 
of a wood. It was so hidden, and the road was so 
difficult to find, that he himself would not have found 
it, if a wise woman had not given him a wonderful skein 
of thread ; which when he threw it down before him, 
unrolled of itself and showed him the way. The king 
went out so often to his dear children that the queen 
noticed his absence, and was full of curiosity to know 
what business took him thus alone to the wood. So 
she gave his servants a sum of money, and they told 
her the secret, and also told her of the skein, which 
was the only thing that could show the way. After 
that she never rested till she had found out where 
the king kept the skein. Then she made some little 
white silk shirts, and as she had learned witchcraft 
from her mother, she sewed a spell into every one 


THE SIX SWANS. 


343 


of them. And one day when the king was gone out 
to hunt, she took the little shirts and went into the 
wood, and the skein showed her the way. 

The six brothers, who saw some one in the distance, 
thought their dear father was coming, and ran to meet 
him, full of joy. As they approached, the queen 
threw one of the shirts over each of them, and when 
the shirts touched their bodies, they were changed 
into swans, and flew away over the wood. The 
witch’s daughter went home quite happy, and thought 
she had got rid of all her stepchildren ; but the one 
little girl had not run out with her brothers, and the 
queen knew nothing about her. 

Next day the king came joyfully to visit his chil- 
dren, but he found nobody except the little sister. 

Where are your brothers ? ” asked he. 

Oh, dear father,” she answered, they are gone 
and have left me alone,” and then she told him all 
that she had seen out of her window ; how her broth- 
ers were turned into swans, and had flown away over 
the wood ; she also showed him the feathers which 
they had dropped into the courtyard, and which she 
had picked up. 

The king was grieved, but he never thought that 
the queen had done this wicked deed; however, be- 
cause he dreaded lest the little girl would be stolen 
from him likewise, he wished to take her away with 
him. But she was afraid of the stepmother, and 
begged the king to let her stay one night more in the 
castle in the. wood. 

The poor little girl thought, I cannot rest here 
any longer ; I will go and look for my brothers.” 

And when the night came she ran away, and went 
straight into the wood. She went on all through the 
night, and the next day too, till she was so tired that 
she could go no further. Then she saw a little house, 


344 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


and went in, and found a room with six little beds ; 
she did not care to lie down in any, but crept under 
one of them, laid herself on the hard floor, and meant 
to pass the night there. But when the sun was just 
going to set, she heard a rustling, and saw six swans 
come flying in at the window. They sat down on the 
floor, and blew at one another, and blew all their 
feathers off, and took off their swan’s-skins like shirts. 
Then the little girl saw them and recognized her 
brothers, and was very glad, and crept out from under 
the bed. 

The brothers were not less rejoiced when they saw 
their little sister, but their joy did not last long. 

You cannot stop here,” said they to her ; this is 
a house belonging to robbers ; if they come home and 
find you, they will kill you.” 

Cannot you protect me ? ” asked the little sister. 

No,” answered they, we can only take off our 
swan’s-skins for a quarter of an hour every evening, 
and have our natural shape for that time, but after- 
wards we are turned into swans again.” 

The little sister cried and said, Cannot you be 
released ? ” 

Oh, no ! ” answered they ; “ the conditions are too 
hard. You must not speak or laugh for six years, 
and must make for us six shirts out of stitch weed 
during that time. If while you are making them a 
single word comes from your mouth, all your work 
will be of no use.” When her brothers had said this 
the quarter of an hour was over, and they turned 
into swans again and flew out of the window. 

But the little girl made a firm resolution tQ release 
her brothers, even if it cost her her life. She left the 
house and went into the middle of the wood, and 
climbed up in a tree and spent the night there. Next 
morning she got down, collected a quantity of stitch- 


THE SIX SWANS. 


345 


weed, and began to sew. She could not speak to any- 
one, and she did not want to laugh, so she sat and 
only looked at her work. 

When she had been there a long time, it happened 
that the king of the country was hunting in the wood, 
and his hunters came to the tree on which the little 
girl sat. They called to her and said, “Who are 
you ? ” 

But she gave them no answer. 

“ Come down to us,” said they ; “ we will not do you 
any harm.” 

But she only shook her head. As they kept teasing 
her with their questions, she threw them down her 
gold necklace, and thought they would be satisfied 
with that. But they did not leave off, so she threw her 
sash down to them ; and as that was no good she threw 
down her garters, and at last everything that she had 
on and could spare ; so that she had nothing left but 
her shift. But the hunters would not be sent away, 
and climbed up the tree and brought down the little 
girl and took her to the king. 

The king asked, “ Who are you ? What were you 
doing up in the tree ? ” 

But she did not answer. He asked it in all the 
languages that he knew, but she remained as dumb 
as a fish. But because she was so beautiful the 
king’s heart was moved, and he fell deeply in love 
with her. He wrapped his cloak round her, took 
her before him on his horse, and brought her to 
his castle. Then he had her dressed in rich clothes, 
and she shone in her beauty like bright sunshine ; 
but they could not get a word out of her. He set her 
by him at the table, and her modest look and proper 
behavior pleased him so much that he said, “ I will 
marry her, and no one else in the world.” And after 
a few days he was married to her. 


346 


THE FAIRY BOOIt. 


But the king had a wicked mother, who was not 
pleased with this marriage, and spoke ill of the young 
queen. Who knows where the girl comes from ? ’’ 
said she. She cannot speak ; she is not good enough 
for a king.” 

A year after, when the queen brought her first child 
into the world, the old mother took it away, and 
smeared her mouth with blood while she was asleep. 
Then she went to the king and accused her of eating 
her child. She king would not believe it, and would 
not let anyone do her any harm. And she always sat 
and sewed the shirts and took no notice of anything 
else. Next time, when she had another beautiful 
baby, the wicked stepmother did the same as before ; 
but the king could not resolve to believe what she said. 

He said, My wife is too pious and good to do such 
a thing. If she were not dumb, and if she could de- 
fend herself, her innocence would be made clear.” 

But when for the third time the old woman took 
away the new-born child, and accused the queen, who 
could not say a word in her own defence, the king 
could not help himself ; he was forced to give her up 
to the court of justice, and she was condemned to suf- 
fer death by fire. 

When the day came upon which the sentence was to 
be executed, it was exactly the last day of the six 
years, in which she might not speak or laugh ; and 
she had freed her dear brothers from the power of the 
spell. The six little shirts were finished, except that 
on the last one a sleeve was wanting. When she came 
to the place of execution, she laid the shirts on her 
arm, and when she stood at the stake, and the fire 
was going to be lit, she looked round, and there came 
six swans flying through the air. Then her heart 
leaped with joy, for she saw that her deliverance was 
near. 


THE PRINCE WITH THE NOSE. 


347 


The swans flew to her, and crouched down, so that 
she could throw the shirts over them ; as soon as the 
shirts were touched by them, their swan’s-skins fell off, 
and her brothers stood before her. They were all 
grown up, strong and handsome ; only the youngest 
had no left arm, but instead of it a swan’s wing. 

They hugged and kissed their sister many times, 
and then the queen went to the king and began to 
speak, and said, Dearest husband, now I may speak 
and declare to you that I am innocent and falsely ac- 
cused ;i’ and she told him about the deceit of the old 
mother, who had taken away her three children and 
hidden them. 

However, they were soon fetched safely back, to the 
great joy of the king ; and the wicked mother-in-law 
was tied to the stake and burned to ashes. But the 
king and queen, with their six brothers, lived many 
years in peace and happiness. 


THE PEINCE WITH THE NOSE. 

There was once a king who was passionately in 
love with a beautiful princess, but she could not be 
married because a magician had enchanted her. The 
king went to a good fairy to inquire what he should do. 
Said the fairy, after receiving him graciously, Sir, 
I will tell you a secret. The princess has a great cat 
whom she loves so well that she cares for nothing and 
nobody else ; but she will be obliged to marry any per- 
son who is adroit enough to walk upon the cat’s tail.” 

That will not be very difficult,” thought the king 
to himself, and departed, resolving to trample the cat’s 
tail to pieces rather than not succeed in walking upon 
it. He went immediately to the palace of his fair 


848 


THE EAIRY BOOK. 


mistress and the cat. The animal came in front of him, 
arching its back in anger as it was wont to do. The 
king lifted up his foot, thinking nothing would be so 
easy as to tread on the tall, but he found himself mis- 
taken. Minon — that was the creature’s name — 
twisted itself round so sharply that the king only hurt 
his own foot by stamping on the floor. For eight 
days did he pursue the cat everywhere ; up and down 
the palace he was after it from morning till night, but 
with no better success ; the tail seemed made of quick- 
silver, so very lively was it. At last the kiqg had 
the good fortune to catch Minon sleeping, when tramp, 
tramp ! he trod on the tail with all his force. 

Minon woke up, mewed horribly, and immediately 
changed from a cat into a large, fierce-looking man, 
who regarded the king with flashing eyes. 

You must marry the princess,” cried he, because 
you have broken the enchantment in which I held 
her ; but I will be revenged on you. You shall have 
a son with a nose as long as — that ; ” he made in the 
air a curve of half a foot ; yet he shall believe it is 
just like all other noses, and shall be always unfortu- 
nate till he has found out it is not. And if you ever 
tell anybody of this threat of mine, you shall die on 
the spot.” So saying, the magician disappeared. 

The king, who was at first much terrified, soon began 
to laugh at this adventure. My son might have a 
worse misfortune than too long a nose,” thought he. 

At least it will hinder him neither in seeing nor 
liearing. I will go and find the princess and marry 
her at once.” 

He did so, but he only lived a few months after, 
and died before his little son was born, so that nobody 
knew anything about the secret of the nose. 

The little prince was so much wished for that when 
he came into the world they agreed to call him Prince 


THE PKINCE WITH THE NOSE. 


349 


Wish. He had beautiful blue eyes and a sweet little 
mouth, but his nose was so big that it covered half 
his face. The queen, his mother, was inconsolable ; 
but her ladies tried to satisfy her by telling her that 
the nose was not nearly so large as it seemed, that it 
would grow smaller as the prince grew bigger, and that 
if it did not a large nose was indispensable to a hero. 
All great soldiers, they said, had great noses, as every- 
body knew. The queen was so very fond of her son 
that she listened eagerly to all this comfort. Shortly 
she grew so used to the prince’s nose that it did not 
seem to her any largpr than ordinary noses of the 
court ; where, in process of time, everybody with a 
long nose was very much admired, and the unfortunate 
people who had only snubs were taken very little 
notice of. 

Great care was observed in the education of the 
prince ; and as soon as he could speak they told him 
all sorts of amusing tales, in which all the bad people 
had short noses, and all the good peox)le long ones. 
No person was suffered to come near him who had 
not a nose of more than ordinary -length ; nay, to such 
an extent did the courtiers carry their fancy that the 
noses of all the little babies were ordered to be pulled 
out as far as possible several times a day, in order to 
make them grow. But grow as they would, they 
never could grow as long as that of Prince Wish. 
When he was old enough his tutor taught him history ; 
and whenever any great king or lovely princess was 
referred to, the tutor always took care to mention that 
he or she had a long nose. All the royal apartments 
were filled with pictures and portraits having this 
peculiarity, so that at last Prince AVish began to re- 
gard the length of his nose as his greatest perfection, 
and would not have had it an inch less even to save 
his crown. 


350 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


When he was twenty years old his mother and his 
people wished him to marry. They procured for him 
the likenesses of many princesses, but the one he pre- 
ferred was Princess Darling, daughter of a powerful 
monarch, and heiress to several kingdoms. Alas ! with 
all her beauty, this princess had one great misfortune, 
a little turned-up nose, which, everyone else said, made 
her only the more bewitching. But here, in the king- 
dom of Prince Wish, the courtiers were thrown by it 
into the utmost perplexity. They were in the habit 
of laughing at all small noses ; but how dared they 
make fun of the nose of Princess Darling ? Two un- 
fortunate gentlemen, whom Prince Wish had overheard 
doing so, were ignominiously banished from the court 
and capital. 

After this the courtiers became alarmed, and tried 
to correct their habit of speech ; but they would have 
found themselves in constant difficulties, had not one 
clever person struck out a bright idea. He said that 
though it was indispensably necessary for a man to 
have a great nose, women were different ; and that a 
learned man had discovered in a very old manuscript 
that the celebrated Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, the 
beauty of the ancient world, had a turned-up nose. At 
this information Prince Wish was so delighted that he 
made the courtier a very handsome present, and imme- 
diately sent off ambassadors to demand Princess Dar- 
ling in marriage. 

She accepted his offer at once, and returned with the 
ambassadors. He made all haste to meet and welcome 
her ; but when she was only three leagues distant from 
his capital, before he had time even to kiss her hand, 
the magician who had once assumed the shape of his 
mother^s cat, Minon, appeared in the air and carried 
her off before the lover^s very eyes. 

Prince Wish, almost beside himself with grief, de- 


THE PRINCE WITH THE NOSE. 


351 


dared that nothing should induce him to return to his 
throne and kingdom till he had found Darling. He 
would suffer none of his courtiers or attendants to 
follow him ; but, bidding them all : adieu, mounted a 
good horse, laid the reins on the animal’s neck, and let 
him take him wherever he would. 

The horse entered a wide-extended plain, and trotted 
on steadily the whole day without finding a single 
house. Master and beast began almost to faint with 
hunger ; and Prince Wish might have wished himself 
safe at home again, had he not discovered, just at dusk, 
a cavern, where there sat, beside a bright lantern, a 
little woman who might have been more than a hun- 
dred years old. 

She put on her spectacles the better to look at the 
stranger, and he noticed that her nose was so small 
that the spectacles would hardly stay on; then the 
prince and the fairy — for it was a fairy — burst into 
a mutual fit of laughter. 

What a funny nose ! ” cried the one. 

^^Hot so funny as yours, madam,” returned the 
other. But pray let us leave our noses alone, and 
be good enough to give me something to eat, for I am 
dying with hunger, and so is my poor horse.” 

With all my heart,” answered the fairy. ‘‘ Al- 
though your nose is ridiculously long, you are no less 
the son of one of my best friends. I loved your father 
like a brother ; he had a very handsome nose.” 

What is wanting to my nose ? ” asked Wish 
rather savagely. 

Oh, nothing at all. On the contrary, there is a 
great deal too much of it ; but never mind ; one may 
be a very honest man and yet have too big a nose. 
As I said, I was a great friend of your father’s ; he 
came often to see me. I was very pretty then, and 
oftentimes he used to say to me^ ^ My sister — ’ ” 


352 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


I will hear the rest, madam, with pleasure, when 
I have supped ; but will you condescend to remember 
that I have tasted nothing all day ? ” 

Poor boy ! ” said the fairy ; I will give you some 
supper directly ; and while you eat it I will tell you 
my history in six words, for I hate much talking. A 
long tongue is as insupportable as a long nose ; and I 
remember when I was young how much I used to be 
admired because I was not a talker ; indeed, someone 
said to the queen, my mother, — for poor as you 
see me now, I am the daughter of a great king, who 
always — ” 

Ate when he was hungry, I hope,’’ interrupted the 
prince, whose patience was fast departing. 

You are right,” said the imperturbable old fairy ; 
and I will bring you your supper directly, only I 
wish first just to say that the king my father — ” 
Hang the king your father ! ” Prince Wish was 
about to exclaim, but he stopped himself and only 
observed that, however the pleasure of her conversa- 
tion might make him forget his hunger, it could not 
have the same effect upon his horse, who was really 
starving. 

The fairy, pleased at his civility, called her ser- 
vants and bade them supply him at once with all he 
needed. And,” added she, ‘‘ I must say you are very 
polite and very good-tempered in spite of your nose.” 

What has the old woman to do with my nose ? ” 
thought the prince. If I were not so very hungry 
I would soon show her what she is — a regular old 
gossip and chatterbox. She to fancy she talks little, 
indeed ! One must be very foolish not to know one’s 
own defects. This comes of being born a princess. 
Flatterers have spoiled her, and persuaded her that 
she talks little. Little, indeed ! I never knew any- 
body chatter so much.” 


THE TEESTCE WITH THE NOSE. 


353 


While the prince thus meditated the servants were 
laying the table, the fairy asking them a hundred 
unnecessary questions, simply for the pleasure of 
hearing herself talk. Well,” thought Wish, I am 
delighted that I came hither, if only to learn how 
wise I have been in never listening to flatterers, who 
hide from us our faults or make us believe they are 
perfections. But they could never deceive me. I 
know all my own weak points, I trust,” as truly he 
believed he did. 

So he went on eating contentedly, nor stopped till 
the old fairy began to address him. 

Prince,” said she, will you be kind enough to 
turn a little ? Your nose casts such a shadow that 
I cannot see what is in my plate. And, as I was 
saying, your father admired me and always made me 
welcome at court. What is the court etiquette there 
now ? Do the ladies still go to assemblies, prome- 
nades, balls ? — I beg your pardon for laughing, but 
how very long your nose is ! ” 

I wish you would cease to speak of my nose,” 
said the prince, becoming annoyed. ^^It is what it 
is, and I do not desire it any shorter.” 

Oh ! I see that I have vexed you,” returned the 
fairy. Nevertheless, I am one of your best friends, 
and so I shall take the liberty of always — ” She 
would doubtless have gone on talking till midnight ; 
but the prince, unable to bear it any longer, here in- 
terrupted her, thanked her for her hospitality, bade 
her a hasty adieu, and rode away. 

He travelled for a long time, half over the world, 
but he heard no news of Princess Darling. However, 
in each place he went to he heard one remarkable fact 
— the great length of his own nose. The little boys 
in the street jeered at him, the peasants stared at him, 
and the more polite ladies and gentlemen whom he 


354 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


met in society used to try in vain to keep from laugh- 
ing, and to get out of his way as soon as they could. So 
the poor prince became gradually quite forlorn and 
solitary ; he thought all the world was mad, but still 
he never thought of there being anything queer about 
his own nose. 

At last the old fairy, who, though she was a chatter- 
box, was very good-natured, saw that he was almost 
breaking his heart. She felt sorry for him, and 
wished to help him in spite of himself, for she knew 
the enchantment which hid from him the Princess 
Darling could never be broken till he had discovered 
his own defect. So she went in search of the princess, 
and being more powerful than the magician, since she 
was a good fairy and he was ah evil magician, she got 
her away from him and shut her up in a palace of 
crystal, which she placed on the road which Prince 
Wish had to pass. 

He was riding along, yerj melancholy, when he 
saw the palace ; and at its entrance was a room, made 
of the purest glass, in which sat his beloved princess, 
smiling and beautiful as ever. He leaped from his 
horse and ran towards her. She held out her hand 
for him to kiss, but he could not get at it for the 
glass. Transported with eagerness and delight, he 
dashed his sword through the crystal, and succeeded 
in breaking a small opening, to which she put up her 
beautiful rosy mouth. But it was in vain; Prince 
Wish could not approach it. He twisted his neck 
about and turned his head on all sides, till at length, 
putting up his hand to his face, he discovered the 
impediment. 

It must be confessed,” exclaimed he, that my 
nose is too long.” 

That moment the glass walls all split asunder, and ' 
the old fairy appeared, leading Princess Darling. 


THE HIND OF THE FOKEST. 355 

“ Avow, prince,” said she, that you are very much 
obliged to me, for now the enchantment is ended. 
You may marry the object of your choice. But,” 
added she, smiling, I fear I might have talked to 
you forever on the subject of your nose, and you 
would not have believed me in its length, till it 
became an obstacle to your own inclinations. Now 
behold it ! ” and she held up a crystal mirror. Are 
you satisfied to be no different from other people ? ” 
“Perfectly,” said Prince Wish, who found his nose 
had shrunk to an ordinary length. And, taking the 
Princess Darling by the hand, he kissed her cour- 
teously, affectionately, and satisfactorily. Then they 
departed to their own country and lived very happy 
all their days. 


THE HIND OF THE FOREST. 

A BEAUTIFUL queeii, whose subjects adored her and 
whose husband thought her the best woman in the 
world, had but one sorrow, which was equally a 
sorrow both to the king and the country — she 
brought him no heir to the throne. She at last grew 
so melancholy that she was ordered for her health to 
drink the medicinal waters that were found in a cele- 
brated wood ; and one day, sitting beside one of these 
fountains, which fell into a marble and porphyry 
basin, she sent all her ladies away, that she might the 
better weep and lament unobserved. 

“ How unhappy am I ! ” said she ; “ five years I 
have been married and am still childless, while the 
poorest women in the land have children by the dozen. 
Am I to die without ever giving the king an heir ? ” 

While she spoke she noticed that the water of 
the fountain was slightly disturbed, and there issued 


356 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


thence a large cray-fish, who thus addressed her : 

Great queen, you shall have what you desire ; but 
first you must go to the fairy palace which is near 
here, though so surrounded by mists and clouds as to 
be invisible to mortal eyes unless you will be con- 
ducted there by a poor cray-fish.’’ 

Though very much surprised, the queen answered 
courteously that she had no objection, except that the 
animal’s method of walking would not well suit her 
own. 

The shell-fish smiled — if a shell-fish can smile — 
and immediately took the shape of a pretty little old 
woman. Madam,” said she, we now need not 
walk crab-fashion. Consider me as your friend, for, 
indeed, I am desirous of being so.” 

So saying, she jumped out of the fountain, her 
clothes not being the least wet, though they were 
made of white and crimson velvet, nor her gray hair 
damp ; it was tied with green ribbons, and appeared 
all in order and smooth as silk. She saluted the 
queen, and then conducted her by a road which, 
strange to say, well as she knew every portion of the 
wood, her majesty had never before seen, to a palace 
of which the walls, roofs, and balconies were built 
entirely of diamonds. 

“ Is all this a dream ? ” cried the delighted queen. 

But no, it was a reality, for the gates straightway 
opened, and six beautiful fairies appeared, who, mak- 
ing her a profound reverence, presented her with six 
flowers composed of jewels : a rose, a tulip, an anem- 
one, a jasmine, a carnation, and a hearts-ease. 

Madam,” said they, we could not give you a 
greater mark of our favor than in permitting you to 
come here. We are delighted to tell you that by and 
by you will have a little daughter, whom you must 
name Desiree — the Desired. As soon as she is borii, 


THE HIND OF THE FOREST. 


357 


call us, and we will endow lier with all sorts of good 
qualities. You have only to take this bouquet, and 
name each separate flower, thinking of us, when im- 
mediately we shall be present in your chamber.’’ 

The queen, transported with joy, embraced all the 
fairies, spent the day with them, and returned, laden 
with presents, to the fountain side ; where the little 
old woman jumped into the water, became a cray-fish 
again, and disappeared. 

In due time the Princess Desiree was born, and the 
queen did as she was told in naming the flowers. 
Soon all the six fairies appeared, in different chariots : 
of ebony, drawn by white pigeons ; of ivory, drawn 
by black crows ; and so on, in great variety. They 
entered the royal chamber with an air at once cheer- 
ful and majestic, embraced the queen and the little 
princess, and spread out all their presents. These 
were : linen so tine that none but fairy hands could 
have spun it ; lace and embroidery without end ; and 
a cradle, the wonder of the world. It was made of 
wood more precious than gold, and at each corner 
stood four animated images, little cupids, who, as 
soon as the baby cried, began to rock it of their own 
accord. Then the six fairies kissed and dandled the 
princess, bestowing on her for her portion beauty, 
good temper, good health, talents, long life, and the 
faculty of doing thoroughly well everything she tried 
to do. The queen, overcome with gratitude, was 
thanking them with all her heart for their kindness 
to her little daughter, when she saw enter her 
chamber a cray-fish so large that it could hardly pass 
through the door. 

Ungrateful queen,” said the crab, have you for- 
gotten the fairy of the fountain ? You sent for these 
my sisters, and not for me, who am the one to whom 
you owed most of all.” 


358 


THE FAIRY ROOK. 


The queen made a hundred apologies, and the six 
fairies tried vainly to pacify the other one ; but she 
was determined, as she said, to punish ingratitude. 
“ However,'^ added she, I will give no worse gift 
to the princess than to warn you that if you let her 
see daylight before she is fifteen years old, you will 
repent it.” So saying, she retired backwards, crab- 
fashion, resisting all entreaties to resume her proper 
form and join in the festivities. 

The afflicted mother took counsel with the six fairies 
how she was to save her baby from this impending 
evil, and after many conflicting opinions they advised 
her to build a tower without doors or windows, and 
with a subterranean entrance, which the princess 
might inhabit till she had passed the fatal age. 
Everything is easy to fairies ; so three strokes of their 
wands, making eighteen strokes in all, began and 
finished the edifice. It was built of green and white 
marble, ornamented inside with diamonds and emer- 
alds, and hung with tapestry — all fairy work — on 
which was pictured the lives of heroes. Though there 
was only lamp-light allowed, yet the lamps were so 
numerous that they made the tower seem as bright 
as day. Whether the princess was ever permitted 
any fresh air, or taken out for a walk by starlight or 
moonlight, the history does not say ; but it does say 
one thing, that she grew up very happy, very lovely, 
and very well educated. 

The six fairies came frequently to see her, and 
were most kind and affectionate to her ; but the one 
she loved best among them all was Tulip. By this 
fairy’s advice, the nearer she approached the age of 
fifteen, the more carefully was Desiree shut up from 
daylight. But her mother, who was very proud of 
her beauty, caused her portrait to be painted and sent 
among all the neighboring courts, in order that some 


THE HIND OF THE FOREST. 359 

prince might seek her in marriage. There was one 
prince who was so captivated by this likeness that 
he shut himself up with it, and talked to it as if it 
had been alive, making love to it in the most passion- 
ate manner, and then falling into a hopeless melan- 
choly. 

When l>is father tried to discover the cause of this, 
“ Sir,” said Prince AVarrior (he went by that name, 
because, young as he was, he had already gained three 
battles), my grief is that you wish me to marry the 
Black Princess, while I will marry only the Princess 
Desiree. I have seen her portrait, and without her I 
shall surely die. Behold her ! ” 

The king looked at the portrait. Well, my son, I 
cannot wish for a more charming daughter-in-law ; we 
will retract our offers for the Black Princess, and send 
an ambassador to propose for the Princess Desiree.” 

The prince, kissing his father’s hand, overwhelmed 
him with his gratitude and joy. A courtier, Becafico 
by name, young and gallant, was despatched, with 
eighty equipages, a hundred mounted squires, and the 
portrait of the Prince Warrior, to ask the Princess 
Desiree in marriage. The report of his splendors 
travelled before him, till it reached the ears of the 
king and queen, and of the six fairies, who were all 
equally delighted. 

But,” said the Fairy Tulip, who was the sagest 
of them, beware, queen, of allowing Becafico to see 
our child,” as they tenderly called Desiree, and do not 
upon any account suffer her to leave her tower for the 
kingdom of Prince Warrior until her fifteenth birthday 
is past.” 

The ambassador arrived ; his magnificent train took 
twenty-three days in going through the gates of the 
city. He made his harangue to the king and queen, 
and much state ceremonial passed between them ; then 


360 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


he begged for the honor of an audience with the 
princess, and was very much astonished to find it 
denied him — still more so when the king candidly 
told him the whole story. 

The queen had strictly enjoined the ladies of honor 
not to tell her daughter one word of the ambassador’s 
visit or her intended marriage ; yet somehow the 
princess already knew it quite well. But she was wise 
enough to say nothing about it ; and when her mother 
showed her the prince’s portrait and asked her if she 
should like such a gallant young man for her husband, 
she replied humbly that she should be quite satis- 
fied with any choice her parents made for her. So 
her hand was promised, but as she still wanted three 
months of fifteen the prince was requested to wait 
thus long. 

He took this delay so much to heart that he could 
neither eat nor sleep ; meantime Desiree was little 
better — she did nothing but look at the prince’s por- 
trait, and was exceedingly irritable with Longthorn and 
Gilliflower, her two maids of honor. The other lady 
— the Black Princess — was in equally sore plight, for 
she too had fallen in love with the prince’s portrait, 
and his rejection of her hand offended her much. 

What ! ” said she to the ambassador ; your master 
does not find me handsome enough or rich enough ? ” 
Madam,” said the embassador, as much as a 
subject dare blame a sovereign, I blame my prince; 
had I the first throne in the world, I should know to 
whom to offer it.” 

He said this because he feared the bastinado, for 
Ethiopians are warm haters as well as warm lovers. 
The Black Princess was softened and dismissed him, 
on which he gladly took himself out of the country. 

But the Ethiopian lady was too deeply offended 
with Prince Warrior to pardon him so readily. She 


THE HIND OF THE FOREST. 


361 


mounted her ivory car, drawn by six ostriches which 
ran at the rate of six leagues an hour, and went to 
the palace of her godmother, the Fairy of the Foun- 
tain, who had been so offended by being forgotten at 
the birth of Desiree. Arrived there, she unfolded all 
her annoyances. The fairy consoled her and promised 
to aid her in her revenge. 

Meantime Becafico had travelled with all diligence 
to the capital of Desiree’s father, where with earnest 
entreaties he begged that the princess might be sent 
back with him to her betrothed spouse, who other- 
wise would certainly die ; at which tidings the prin- 
cess herself was so much moved that she fainted 
a-way. Thus her parents discovered how deeply in 
love she was with Prince Warrior. 

Do not disquiet yourself, my dear child,” said the 
queen ; if the prince suffers, it is you who can con- 
sole him. My only fear is on account of the menaces 
of the Fairy of the Fountain.” 

But Desiree was so eager to start that she suggested 
being sent away in a closed carriage, where the light 
of day should never penetrate, and which should only 
be opened at night-time to give her food. She was 
willing to suffer any inconvenience for the sake of 
saving the life of Prince Warrior. 

The parents assented. So there was built a magnif- 
icent equipage of green velvet outside, and lined with 
rose-color and silver brocade. It was very large, but 
it was shut up as tight as a box, and it had a huge lock, 
the key of which was entrusted to one of the highest 
noblemen of the court. In this carriage Desiree was 
placed, after most affecting adieus, by her father and 
mother ; and with her were sent her maids of honor, 
Longthorn and Gilliflower, and a lady-in-waiting, 
who was the mother of both. Now, Longthorn cared 
little for the princess, but she cared very much for 


362 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Prince Warrior, whose portrait she had seen ; and 
when the bridal train departed, she said to her 
mother that she should certainly die if this marriage 
were accomplished ; so the mother, notwithstanding the 
confidence placed in her by the queen, that she should 
watch over the princess and carefully seclude her from 
daylight until she had reached the age of fifteen, 
yielded to her own child’s persuasions and determined 
to betray her trust. 

Longthorn, who learned each evening from the 
officers of the household, when they came to bring the 
princess her supper, how far they were on their journey, 
at last persuaded her mother, who put off the cruel act 
as long as she could, that it Avould never do to wait 
any longer. They were nearly at the capital, and the 
young prince might, in his impatience, come to meet 
them, and the opportunity be lost. So next day at 
noon, when the sun was at the hottest, the lady-in- wait- 
ing took out a knife, which she had brought with her 
for the purpose, cut a large hole in the side of the car- 
riage where they were all shut up together, and the 
princess, for the first time in her life, beheld daylight. 
She uttered a deep sigh and immediately leaped out 
of the carriage in the form of a white hind, which fied 
away like lightning and hid itself in the thickest 
recesses of a neighboring wood. 

None of the train perceived her, or if they had they 
would not have known it was she ; besides, the Pairy 
of the Fountain immediately sent such a storm of 
thunder and lightning that the whole cavalcade took 
shelter in the nearest place they could find. The only 
persons who knew what had happened were Longthorn, 
her mother, and Gilliflower ; but Gilliflower, over- 
whelmed with grief, had sprung out of the carriage 
after her beloved mistress ; so the two others were left 
alone. Longthorn immediately put on the garments 


THE HIND OP THE FOREST. 


368 


of Desiree, and adorned lierself with her royal mantle, 
her crown of diamonds, her sceptre of a single ruby, 
and the globe which she carried in her left hand, com- 
posed of one enormous pearl. Thus attired, with her 
mother bearing her train, the false Desiree marched 
into the city — they two alone ; for, by the fairy’s 
contrivance the rest of the attendants had been scat- 
tered in all directions. Longthorn doubted not the 
prince would be already advancing to meet his bride, 
which was indeed the case ; though he was so weak 
that he had to be conveyed in a litter, surrounded by 
courtiers and knights, who all wore splendid armor 
and green plumes, green being the favorite color of the 
princess. Seeing the two ladies, so richly dressed, 
coming forward on foot and unattended, they dis- 
mounted and respectfully greeted them. 

May I inquire,” said Longthorn, who is in that 
litter ? ” 

Madam,” replied a knight, it is the Prince War- 
rior, who comes to meet his betrothed, the Princess 
Desiree.” 

Tell him,” said Longthorn, that I am she. A 
fairy, jealous of my happiness, has driven away all my 
attendants; but that I am Desiree is proved by these 
my royal ornaments, and the letters of my father, 
borne by my lady of honor here.” 

Immediately the courtiers kissed the hem of her 
robe, and made all diligence to announce to the prince, 
and the king his father, who accompanied him, that the 
Princess Desiree had arrived. 

What ! ” cried the king ; “ arrived here in full day- 
light ? ” But the prince, burning with impatience, 
asked questions except about the lady herself : 

Is she not a miracle of beauty — according to her 
portrait ? ” There was no reply. You are afraid to 
speak, gentlemen, lest you should praise her too much.” 


364 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


But the courtiers were still silent. Sir/’ at last 
said one of the boldest of them, ^^you had better go 
and see the princess yourself.” 

The prince, much surprised, would have thrown 
himself out of his litter ; but he was too feeble, and 
his father went instead. When the king beheld the 
false princess he involuntarily drew back ; but the 
lady-of -honor, advancing boldly, said : 

Sire, this is the Princess Desiree. I bear letters 
from the king and queen her parents, and also a casket 
of priceless jewels, which they charged me to place in 
your hands.” 

The king kept a mournful silence, and regarded his 
son, who now approached leaning on one of the cour- 
tiers. When he looked at the girl he recoiled with 
disgust ; for she was so gaunt and tall that the clothes 
of Desiree scarcely covered her knees, and her extreme 
thinness, her red, hooked nose, her black and ill- 
shaped teeth, made her as ugly as Desiree was beauti- 
ful. Prince Warrior, who for months had thought of 
nothing but his lovely bride, stood petrified. King,” 
said he to his father, I am betrayed ! This is not 
the lady whose portrait was sent me, and to whom I 
have plighted my faith; I have been deceived, and 
the deception will cost me my life.” 

What do I hear ? ” replied Longthorn haughtily. 

Prince, who has deceived you ? You will be no victim 
in marrying me.” 

Ah ! my beautiful princess,” exclaimed the lady- 
of-honor, it is we who are victims. AYhat a reception 
for one of your rank ! What inconstancy, what false- 
hood ! But the king your father shall make them hear 
reason.” ^ 

‘‘We will make him hear reason ! ” cried the other 
king indignantly. “ He promised us a beautiful prin- 
cess, and he has sent us a skeleton, a fright. I do not 


THE HIND OF THE FOREST. 365 

wonder he has kept it shut up for fifteen years, and 
now he wishes to foist it upon us.’’ 

And without taking any more notice of Longthorn, 
he and his son remounted each into his litter and 
departed. 

Prince Warrior was so overcome by this unexpected 
affliction that for a long time he did not speak a word. 
Then he resolved, as soon as his health allowed, to 
depart secretly from the capital, and seek some soli- 
tary place where he might pass the remainder of his 
sad life. He communicated this design to no one but 
the faithful Becafico, who insisted upon following his 
fortunes wherever he went. So one day the prince 
left a letter for his father, assuring him that as soon 
as his mind was tranquillized he would return to the 
court, but imploring that in the meantime no search 
might be made after him. Then he and Becafico 
departed together. 

Meanwhile the poor white hind fled into the wood. 
She wandered about till she came to a fountain where, 
as in a mirror, she saw her own changed shape, and 
wept, convulsed with grief. Then hunger began to 
attack her — she bent her head and browsed upon the 
green grass, which she was surprised to find tasted very 
good. She laid herself down on a bank of moss, but 
passed the night in extreme terror, hearing the wild 
beasts roaring around her, and, often forgetting that 
she was a hind, trying to save herself by climbing a 
tree like a human being. Daybreak reassured her a 
little ; she admired for the first time the wonderful 
beauty of dawn ; and when the sun rose it appeared 
to her such a marvellous sight that she could not take 
her eyes from it. She was strangely comforted, spite 
of all her misfortune, by the charm that she found 
out, every minute more and more, in the new world 
which now for the first time she beheld in daylight. 


366 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


The Fairy Tulip, who loved Desiree, was very sorry 
for her, although somewhat offended that the queen 
had not taken her advice, and detained the princess 
safe in her tower till she was fifteen ; however, she 
would not leave her a prey to the malice of the Fairy 
of the Fountain, so contrived invisibly to conduct the 
faithful Gilliflower to the place where the poor for- 
lorn hind reposed. As soon as Desiree saw her she 
leaped the stream, and came towards her former com- 
panion, lavishing on her a thousand caresses. 

At first Gilliflower was very much astonished to be 
so taken notice of by a deer of the forest ; but looking 
at it attentively she saw two great tears rolling down 
from the soft human-like eyes, and some instinct told 
her that it was her dear princess. She took the fore- 
feet of the hind, and kissed them as respectfully as if 
they had been her mistress’s hands. She spoke to 
her, and though the hind could not reply, yet it was 
clear she understood, for the tears flowed faster than 
ever, and she showed, by as much intelligence as a 
dumb beast could possibly evince, that she respondea 
to the love of the faithful girl. When Gilliflower 
promised that she would never quit her, by a hundred 
little signs the poor hind tried to express how happy 
she was. 

They passed the day together, Desiree leading her 
companion to a place where she had seen plenty of 
wild fruits ; so that Gilliflower, who was dying of 
hunger, became strengthened and refreshed. But when 
night came, the girl’s terrors returned. 

Dear hind,” said she, where shall we sleep ? If 
we stay here the wild beasts will devour us ; is there 
no little hut where we can hide ? ” 

The poor hind shook her pretty head, and the tears 
again began to flow, almost as if she were a human 
being. Her tears melted the heart of the Fairy Tulip, 


THE HIND OF THE FOREST. 


367 


who had watched her invisibly all the time, and now 
made herself known — appearing suddenly in a shady 
alley of the wood. Gilliflower and the white hind 
threw thems^ves at her feet — the latter licking her 
hands and caressing her as prettily as a deer could, 
the former imploring her to take pity on the princess 
and restore here to her natural shape. 

I cannot do that,’^ said the fairy ; her enemy 
has too much power ; but I can shorten her term of 
punishment and soften it a little, by granting that 
during every night she becomes a woman, though as 
soon as day breaks she must again wander about as a 
hind of the forest.’’ 

It was a great comfort to be a woman every night ; 
and the hind showed her joy by innumerable leaps 
and bounds, which delighted the good Tulip. 

^‘Follow this by-path,” said she, and you will find 
a hut that will serve you as a quiet home. Farewell.” 

She disappeared, and Gilliflower, with the hind 
trotting after her, went on and on till she came to a 
little hut, before which sat an old woman making a 
basket of osiers. 

My good woman,” said she, have you a room to 
let for me and my pet here ? ” 

Yes, truly,” replied the old woman ; and took 
them into a room where were two little beds hung 
with white dimity, with fine white sheets and every- 
thing as neat and comfortable as possible. As soon 
as it grew dark the princess recovered her own shape, 
and kissed and embraced a thousand times her dear 
Gilliflower, who, on her part, was full of delight and 
thankfulness. Then they had their supper and went 
to sleep in their two little beds. 

When morning broke Gilliflower was awakened by 
a scratching, and there she saw the hind just as much 
a hind as before, waiting to be let out. The faithful 


368 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


attendant opened the door, and the deer sprang out 
quickly and disappeared in the forest. 

Now, by an extroardinary chance, it happened that 
Prince Warrior, wandering about indifferent to where 
he went, lost himself in this very forest, where he had 
come with his companion Becafico. The latter, seek- 
ing for fruits to satisfy their hunger, reached the same 
cottage-door where the old woman lived, and being 
received kindly, asked her for some food for his master. 
She put some bread into a basket, and was going to 
give it to him, when her charity made her offer the 
wanderers shelter for the night. 

It is a poor cottage,” said she; ^^but I have still 
one empty room, which will at least save you from 
being eaten up by wolves and lions.” 

So the prince was persuaded ; and the old woman, 
who appeared ignorant of his rank, admitted him and 
Becafico cautiously, so as not to disturb the lady and 
the hind, who occupied the next room. Thus the two 
lovers were so near that they might almost have heard 
one another speak, yet did not know it. 

The prince rarely slept much ; his sorrow was still 
too great ; and when the first rays> of the sun shone 
through his window he arose and went out into the 
forest. There he wandered a long time without find- 
ing any sure track ; at last he came upon a sort of 
bower, overhung with trees and carpeted with moss, 
out of which started a beautiful white hind, who 
immediately fled away. 

Now the prince had formerly been a great hunter, 
until his passion for the phase was swallowed up by 
his love for Desiree ; but the old fancy returned when 
he saw the white hind. He could not help following 
her, and sending after her arrows not a few, from the 
bow which he always carried, causing her almost to 
die of fear ; although, by the care of the Fairy Tulip, 


THE HIND OF THE FOREST. 


369 


she was not wounded. All through the day he pur- 
sued her, until, towards twilight, she escaped from 
him towards the cottage, where Gilliflower was watch- 
ing in the utmost anxiety. The faithful girl received 
tenderly into her arms the poor hind, breathless, 
exhausted, and eagerly awaited the moment when 
her mistress should become a woman again and tell 
her what had happened. When darkness came on 
the deer vanished, and it was the Princess Desiree 
who lay on Gilliflower’s bosom. 

Alas ! ” cried she, weeping. I have more to 
fear than the Fairy of the Fountain and the wild 
beasts of the forest. I have been pursued all day by 
a young hunter, whom I had scarcely seen before he 
obliged me to fly, and sent so many arrows after me 
that I marvel I was not killed, or at least wounded.’’ 

My princess, you must never quit this room 
again,” said Gilliflower. 

I must ; for the same enchantment which makes 
me a hind forces me to do as hinds do. I feel myself 
every morning irresistibly compelled to run into the 
wood, to leap and bound, and eat grass, and behave 
myself exactly like a wild creature of the forest. Oh, 
how weary I am ! ” 

Her soft eyes closed, and she fell asleep until the 
dawn of day, when again she was driven out in the 
shape of a poor four-footed creature, to fulfil her sad 
destiny. 

The prince on his part came home also very much 
wearied and vexed. Becafico,” he said, I have 
spent the day in chasing the most beautiful hind I 
ever saw. She has slipped from me time after time 
with the most wondrous adroitness ; yet my arrows 
were so true that I marvel how she escaped. At 
dawn to-morrow I must be after her once more.” 

So he did not fail to go, at earliest dawn, to her 


370 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


hiding-plaee ; but the hind took care not to revisit her 
favorite haunt. He sought her everywhere, and could 
see nothing ; then being very tired and hot, he 
gathered some luscious apples which he saw hanging 
upon a tree over his head. As soon as he ate them 
he fell fast asleep. 

Meantime the hind, roaming stealthily about, came 
to the place where he lay — came quite suddenly, or 
else she would have taken to flight ; but now seeing 
her enemy sound asleep, she paused a minute to look 
at him ; and in his features, wasted with grief, but 
still so lovable and beautiful, she recognized the face 
which had long been engraven on her heart. The 
poor hind ! She crouched down at a little distance and 
watched him, her eyes beaming with joy. Then she 
sighed ; at length, become bolder, she approached 
nearer and softly touched him with her forefoot. 

Awaking, what was the prince’s surprise to see 
beside him, tame and familiar, the pretty creature 
whom he had hunted all yesterday ; but when he put 
out his hand to seize her she fled away like lightning. 
He followed with all the speed he could, and thus, she 
flying and he pursuing, they passed the whole day. 
Towards evening her strength failed; and when the 
hunter came up to her it was a poor half-dying deer 
that he found lying on the grass. She thought her 
death was certain ; still, from his hands, it did not 
seem so terrible as from anyone else ; but instead of 
killing her he caressed her. 

Beautiful hind,” said he, do not be afraid. I 
only wish to take you home with me, and have you 
with me always.” He cut branches of trees, wove 
them ingeniously into a sort of couch, which he 
strewed with roses and moss ; then took the creature 
in his arms, laid her gently down upon them, and sat 
beside her, feeding her from time to time with the soft- 


THE HIND OF THE FOREST. 


371 


est grass he could find. , She ate contentedly from his 
hand, and he almost fancied she understood all the 
sweet things he said to her, and so time passed till it 
grew dusk. 

My pretty hind,” said he, I will go in search of 
a stream where you can drink, and then we will take 
our way home together.” But while he was absent 
she stole away, and had only time to reach the cottage 
when the transformation happened, and it was not a 
hind, but a weeping princess, who threw herself on the 
bed beside the faithful Gilliflower. 

I have seen him ! ” she cried. My Prince War- 
rior is himself in this forest ; he was the hunter who 
has pursued me these two days, and has taken me at 
last. But he did not slay me : he saved and caressed 
me. Ah, he is gentler and sweeter even than the 
image in my heart.” 

Here she began again to weep ; but Gilliflower con- 
soled her, and they went to sleep wondering much 
how this adventure would end. 

The prince, returning from the stream, missed his 
beautiful white hind, and came back to Becafico full 
of grief, mingled with a certain anger at the ingrati- 
tude of the creature to whom he had been so kind. 
But at break of day he rose, determined again to pur- 
sue her. She, however, in order to avoid him, took a 
quite different route. Still the forest was not so 
large but at last he saw her, leaping and bounding 
among the bushes. Seized by an irresistible impulse, 
he shot an arrow after her ; it struck her, she felt a 
violent pain dart through one of her slender limbs, 
and fell helpless on the grass. When the prince came 
up to her, he was overcome with remorse for his 
cruelty. He took a handful of herbs and bound up 
her wound, made her a bed of branches and moss, laid 
her head upon his knees, and wept over her. 


372 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


My lovely hind/’ said he, why did I wound you 
so cruelly ? You will hate me, when I wish you to 
love me.” So he tended and cherished her all day, 
and towards night-fall he knotted a ribbon round her 
neck, with the intention of gently leading her home. 
But she struggled with him ; and the struggle was so 
sore that Gilliflower, coming out in search of her dear 
mistress, heard the rustling, and saw her hind in the 
hunter’s power. She rushed to rescue her, to the 
prince’s great astonishment. 

Whatever consideration I owe you, madam,” said 
he, you must know that you are committing a rob- 
bery ; this hind is mine.” 

No, sir, she is mine,” returned Gilliflower respect- 
fully. She knows she is, and will prove it if you will 
only give her a little liberty. My pretty pet, come and 
embrace me.” The hind crept into her arms. ^^Now 
kiss me on my right cheek.” She obeyed. ^^Now 
touch my heart.” She laid her foot against Gilli- 
flower’s bosom. 

I allow she is yours,” said the prince discon- 
tentedly. Take her and go your ways.” 

But he followed them at a distance, and was very 
much surprised to see them enter the cottage. He 
asked the old woman who the damsel was, but she 
said she did not know, except that the lady and the 
hind lived there together in solitude and paid her 
well. But when Becafico, who had eyes as sharp as 
needles, coming to meet his master, by chance caught 
sight of Gilliflower, he recognized her at once. 

‘‘ Here is some great mystery,” said he, “ for that 
is the- lady who was the favorite of the Princess 
Desiree.” 

“ Do not utter that name, which only recalls my 
grief,” said the prince sadly ; but Becaflco, determined 
to gratify his curiosity, made all sorts of inquiries. 


THE HIKD OP THE FOEEST. 373 

and discovered that Gilliflower was lodged in the next 
room. 

I should like to see her again/’ thought he ; and 
since only a thin partition divides us, I will bore a 
hole through.” 

He did so, and beheld a wonderful sight. There 
sat the fairest princess in all the world, attired in a 
robe of silver brocade, her hair falling in long curls, 
and her eyes sparkling through tears. Gilliflower 
knelt before her, binding up her beautiful arm, from 
which the blood was flowing. 

Do not heed it,” sighed the princess ; better let 
me die, for death itself would be sweeter than the 
life I lead. Alas ! how hard it is to be a hind all 
day ; to see my betrothed, to feel his tenderness and 
goodness, yet be unable to speak to him, or to tell him 
the fatal destiny which divides me from him.” 

When Becafico heard this, words cannot describe 
his astonishment and delight. He ran towards the 
prince, who sat moodily at the window. Sir,” cried 
he, only look through this hole, and you will see the 
original of the portrait which so fascinated you.” 

The prince looked, and recognized at once his be- 
loved princess. He would have died with joy, had 
he not believed himself deceived by some enchant- 
ment. He knocked at the door; Gilliflower opened 
it ; he entered, and threw himself at the feet of 
Desiree. What followed — of explanations, vows, 
tears, and embraces — was never very clearly related, 
not even by Gilliflower and Becafico, who were present, 
but who considerately drew aside and spent the time 
in conversing with one another. So passed the night ; 
and anxiously they awaited for the dawn, to see 
whether the beautiful princess would again become a 
hind of the forest. But the day broke, grew clearer, 
brightened into sunrise^ and the princess^ with the 


374 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


prince sitting beside her, remained a beautiful maiden 
still. Then came a knock at the door, and there 
entered the little old woman, who had been such a 
kind hostess for all this while. 

^^The period of enchantment is ended, my chil- 
dren,’^ said she. “ Go home and be happy.” And 
then they knew her as no longer the little old woman, 
but the Fairy Tulip, who had thus faithfully watched 
her charge. 

So the bride and bridegroom returned to their cap- 
ital, where the marriage was solemnized with all 
splendor, and, at Desiree’s request, Longthorn and 
her mother, who had been imprisoned by the old 
king’s order, were set free, with no further punishment 
than banishment to their own country, where they 
were to remain for life. As for the faithful Gilli- 
flower, she stayed at court with her beloved mistress, 
and became the wife of the equally faithful Becafico, 
who had served Prince Warrior as devotedly as she 
the Princess Desiree. The two were laden with 
wealth and honors, and shared the happiness of the 
other two lovers, which was as great as any mortal 
could desire. After their death the story of the 
White Hind of the Forest was commanded to be 
written down in the archives of the state, and thence 
it has been told in tradition, or sung in poetry, half 
over the world. 


THE JUNIPEB-TBEE. 

One or two thousand years ago there was a rich 
man who had a beautiful and pious wife ; they loved 
one another dearly, but they had no children. They 
'wished and prayed for some night and day, but still 
they had none. In front of their house was a yard 


THE JUNIPER-TREE. 


375 


where stood a Juniper-tree, and under it the wife 
stood once in winter and peeled an apple, and as she 
peeled the apple she cut her finger, and the blood 
fell on the snow. 

Oh,’^ said she, sighing deeply and looking sor- 
rowfully at the blood, “ if I only had a child as red 
as blood and as white as snow ! ” 

While she spoke she became quite happy ; it seemed 
to her as if her wish would surely come to pass. Then 
she went into the house ; and a month passed, and 
the snow melted ; and two months, and the ground 
was green ; and three months, and the flowers came 
up out of the earth; and four months, and all the 
trees in the wood burst forth, and the green twigs all 
grew thickly together ; the little birds sang so that 
the whole wood rang, and the blossoms fell from the 
trees. The fifth month passed, and she stood under 
the Juniper-tree, and it smelt so beautiful, and her 
heart leaped for joy. She fell upon her knees, but 
could not speak. When the sixth month was gone, the 
fruit was large and ripe, and she was very quiet ; the 
seventh month, she took the juniper berries, ate them 
eagerly, and was sick and sorrowful ; and the eighth 
month went by, and she called to her husband, and cried 
and said, “ If I die, bury me under the Juniper-tree.” 

After this she was quite comforted and happy till 
the next month was past, and then she had a child as 
white as snow and as red as blood. When she be- 
held it she was so glad that she died. 

Her husband buried her under the Juniper-tree, 
and began to mourn very much; but after a little 
time he became calmer, and when he had wept a 
little more he left off weeping entirely, and soon 
afterwards he took another wife. 

The second wife brought him a daughter, but the 
child of the first wife was a little son, and was as red 


376 


THE FAIRV BOOK. 


as blood and as white as snow. When the wife 
looked at her daughter she loved her ; but when she 
looked at the little boy she hated him, and it seemed 
as if he were always in her way, and she was always 
thinking how she could get all the property for her 
daughter. The Evil One possessed her so that she 
was quite angry with the little boy, and pushed him 
about from one corner to another, and cuffed him 
here and pinched him there, until the poor child was 
always in fear. When he came home from school he 
could not find a quiet place to creep into. 

Once when the woman went up to her room, her 
little daughter came up too, and said, Mother, give 
me an apple.’’ 

Yes, my child,” said the woman, and gave her a 
beautiful apple out of the chest ; and the chest had a 
great heavy lid, with a great sharp iron lock. 

“ Mother,” said the little daughter, “ shall not 
brother have one too ? ” 

That vexed the woman, but she said, Yes, when 
he comes from school.” 

And when she saw from the window that he was 
coming, it was just as if the Evil One came into her, 
and she snatched away the apple from her daughter, and 
said, You shall not have one before your brother.” 

Then she threw the apple into the chest and shut 
the lid close down. Wiien tiie little boy came in at 
the door, the Evil One made her say kindly, My 
son, will you have an apple ? ” 

Yet she looked so angry all the time that the little 
boy said, Mother, how dreadful you look ! Yes, give 
me an apple.” 

Then she felt that she must speak to him. Come 
with me,” said she, and opened the lid ; pick out an 
apple for yourself.” 

And as the little boy stooped over, the Evil One 


THE JUKIPEK-TKEE. 


377 


prompted her, and smash ! she banged the lid down, 
so that his head flew off and fell among the red apples. 
Then she was seized with terror, and thought, “ Can I 
get rid of the blame of this ? ’’ So she went up to her 
room to her chest of drawers, and took out of the top 
drawer a white cloth, and placed the head on the neck 
again, and tied the handkerchief round it, so that one 
could see nothing, and set him before the door on a 
chair, and gave him the apple in his hand. 

Soon after, little Margery came to her mother, who 
stood by the kitchen fire, and had a pot of hot water 
before her, which she kept stirring round. 

Mother,’’ said little Margery, brother sits before 
the door, and looks quite white, and has an apple in 
his hand ; I asked him to give me the apple, but he 
did not answer me, and I was frightened.” 

“ Go to him again,” said her mother, “ and if he will 
not answer you, give him a box on the ear.” 

Then Margery went, and said, Brother, give me 
the apple.” 

But he was silent, so she gave him a box on the ear, 
and the head fell down. 

She was frightened, and began to cry and sob, and 
ran to her mother and said, Oh, mother, I have 
knocked my brother’s head off ! ” and cried and cried, 
and would not be comforted. 

Margery,” said her mother, what have you done ? 
But now be quiet, and no one will notice ; it cannot be 
helped now — we will cook him in vinegar.” 

Then the mother took the little boy and chopped 
him in pieces, put him into the pot and cooked him 
in vinegar. But Margery stood by, and cried and 
cried, and all her tears fell into the pot, so that the 
cookery did not want any salt. 

When the father came home and sat down to 
dinner, he said, Where is my son ? ” 


378 


THE EALKY BOOK. 


The mother brought a great dish of black soup, and 
Margery cried and cried without ceasing. Then the 
father said again, Where is my son ? ’’ 

‘‘ Oh,” said the mother, he is gone into the country 
to see his uncle, where he is going to stay awhile.” 

What does he want there ? And he has not even 
said good-by to me ! ” 

Oh, he wished very much to go, and asked if he 
might remain away six weeks. He is well taken care 
of there, you know.” 

Well,” said the father, “ I am sorry ; for he ought 
to have bade me good-by.” 

After that he began to eat, and said, Margery, 
what are you crying for ? Brother will be sure to 
come back. Oh, wife,” continued he, how delicious 
this food tastes ; give me some more.” And the more 
he ate, the more he wanted ; and he said, Give me 
more ; you shall not have any of it ; I feel as if it were 
all mine.” And he ate and ate, throwing the bones 
under the table, till he had finished it all. 

But Margery went to her drawers, and took out of 
the bottom drawer her best silk handkerchief, and 
fetched out all the bones from under the table ; she 
tied them up in the silk handkerchief, and took them 
out of doors, and shed bitter tears over them. Then 
she laid them under the Juniper-tree in the green 
grass ; and w'hen she had put them there, she felt all 
at once quite happy, and did not cry any more. 

Soon the Juniper began to move, and the twigs kept 
dividing and then closing, just as if the tree were clap- 
ping its hands for joy. After that there went up from 
it a sort of mist, and right in the centre of the mist 
burnt a fire, and out of the fire flew a beautiful bird, 
who, singing deliciously, rose up high in the air. 
When he was out of sight the Juniper-tree was just 
as it had been before, only the handkerchief with the 


THE JUNIPER-TREE 


379 


bones was gone. But Margery felt quite pleased and 
happy, just as if her brother were still alive. And 
she went back merrily into the house to dinner. 

The bird flew away, set himself on a goldsmith’s 
house, and began to sing — 

‘‘ My mother, she killed me ; 

My father, he ate me ; 

My sister, little Margery, 

Gathered up all my bones. 

Tied them in a silk handkerchief. 

And laid them under the Juniper-tree : 

Kywitt ! Kywitt ! what a beautiful bird am I ! ” 


The ‘goldsmith sat in his workshop making a gold 
chain, but he heard the bird which sat on his roof and 
sang, and he thought it' very beautiful. He stood up, 
and as he went over the doorstep he lost one slipper. 
But he went right into the middle of the street, with 
one slipper and one sock on ; he had on his leather 
apron ; in one hand he carried the gold chain, and in 
the other the pincers, while the sun shone brightly up 
the street. There he stood and looked at the bird. 

Bird,” said he, how beautifully you can sing ! 
Sing me that song again.” 

No,” said the bird, I do not sing twice for nothing. 
Give me that gold chain, and I will sing it again.” 

‘‘ There,” said the goldsmith ; you shall have the 
gold chain ; now sing me that song once more.” 

Then the bird came and took the gold chain in his 
right claw, and went and sat before the goldsmith, and 
sang — 

“ My mother, she killed me; 

My father, he ate me ; 

My sister, little Margery, 

Gathered up all my bones. 

Tied them in a silk handkerchief. 

And laid them under the Juniper-tree : 

Kywitt ! Kywitt ! what a beautiful bird am I ! ” 


880 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Afterwards he flew away to a shoemaker’s, and set 
himself on his roof, and sang — 

My mother, she killed me ; 

My father, he ate me ; 

My sister, little Margery, 

Gathered up all my bones. 

Tied them in a silk handkerchief. 

And laid them under the Juniper-tree : 

Kywitt ! Kywitt ! what a beautiful bird am I ! ” 

When the shoemaker heard it he ran out of his 
door in his shirt-sleeves, looked towards his roof, and 
had to hold his hand over his eyes, so that the sun 
should not dazzle him. 

Bird,” said he, how beautifully you can sing ! ” 
And he called in at his door, Wife, just come out ; 
there is a bird here which can sing so beautifully.” 
Then he called his daughter and his workpeople, both 
boys and girls ; they all came into the street, looked 
at the bird, and saw how handsome he was ; for he 
had bright red and green feathers, and his neck shone 
like real gold, and his eyes twinkled in his head like 
stars. 

“ Bird,” said the shoemaker, ‘‘ now sing me that 
song again.” 

^^No,” replied the bird, do not sing twice for 
nothing; you must give me something.” 

Wife,” said the man, go to the garret : on the 
highest shelf there stands a pair of red shoes — bring 
them here.” 

The wife went and fetched the shoes. 

“ There,” said the man, now sing me that song 
again.” 

Then the bird came and took the shoes in his left 
claw and flew back on the roof, and sang — 

My mother, she killed me ; 

My father, he ate me ; 


THE JUNIPER-TKEE. 


381 


My sister, little Margery, 

Gathered up all my bones, 

Tied them in a silk handkerchief. 

And laid them under the Juniper-tree : 

Kywitt ! Kywitt ! what a beautiful bird am I ! ” 

And. when he had finished he flew away, with the 
chain in his right claw and the shoes in his left. He 
flew far away to a mill, and the mill went Clipper, 
clapper, clipper, clapper, clipper, clapper.’’ And in 
the mill there sat twenty millers, who chopped a stone, 
and chopped Hick, hack* hick, hack, hick, hack ; ” 
and the mill went Clipper, clapper, clipper, clapper, 
clipper, clapper.” 

The bird flew up and sat in a lime-tree that grew 
before the mill, and sang — 

“ My mother, she killed me ; ” 

then one man stopped ; 

‘‘ My father, he ate me ; ” 

then two more stopped and listened ; 

“My sister, little Margery,” 

then four more stopped ; 

“ Gathered up all my bones. 

Tied them in a silk handkerchief,” 

now only eight more were chopping ; 

“ Laid them under ” 


- now only five ; 

“ the Juniper-tree : ” 


now only one ; 

“ Kywitt ! Kywitt ! what a beautiful bird am I ! ” 


382 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Then the last man stopped too, and heard the last 
word. 

“ Bird,’’ said he, how beantifnlly you sing ! Please 
to sing me that song once more.” 

^^No,” answered the bird, I do not sing twice for 
nothing; give me the millstone, and I will sing it 
again.” 

Yes,” said he, if it belonged to me only, you 
should have it.” 

Yes,” cried all the others, if he sings it again, he 
shall have it.” 

Then the bird came down, and all the twenty millers 
took poles and lifted the stone up. The bird stuck 
his neck through the hole in the millstone, and put it 
on like a collar, and flew back to the tree, and sang — 

“ My mother, she killed me ; 

My father, he ate me ; 

My sister, little Margery, 

Gathered up all my bones. 

Tied them in a silk handkerchief. 

And laid them under the Juniper-tree : 

Kywitt ! Kywitt ! what a beautiful bird am I ! ” 

And when he had done singing he opened his wings, 
and though he had in his right claw the chain, in his 
left the shoes, and round his neck the millstone, he 
flew far away to his father’s house. 

In the room sat the father, the mother, and little 
Margery at dinner; and the father said, ^^Oh, how 
happy I am ! — altogether joyful.” 

For me,” said the mother, I feel quite frightened, 
as if a dreadful storm were coming.” 

But Margery sat, and cried and cried. 

Then there came the bird flying, and as he perched 
himself on the roof, Oh,” said the father, I feel so 
happy, and the sun shines out of doors so beautifully ! 
It is just as if I were going to see an old friend.” 


THE JUNIPER-TREE. 


383 


«]Sro/’ said the wife ; “ I am so frightened my teeth 
chatter, and it feels as if there was a fire in my veins 5 
and she tore open her dress. But Margery sat in a 
corner and cried, holding her apron before her eyes 
till the apron was quite wet through. 

The bird perched upon the Juniper-tree, and sang — 
‘‘ My mother, she killed me ; ” 

Then the mother stopped up her ears, and shut her 
eyes tight, and did not want to see or hear ; but there 
was a roaring in her ears like the loudest thunder, and 
her eyes burned and flashed like lightning. 

“ My father, he ate me ; ” 

Oh, wife,’’ said the man, look at that beautiful 
bird ! — he sings so splendidly. And the sun shines 
so warm, and there is a smell like real cinnamon ! ” 

“ My sister, little Margery,” 

Then Margery laid her head on her knee and 
sobbed out loud ; but the man said, I shall go out ; 
I must look at the bird quite close.” 

Oh, do not go,” said the wife ; it seems to me as 
if the whole house shook and was in flames.” 

But the man went out and watched the bird, which 
still went on singing — 

‘‘ Gathered up all my bones. 

Tied them in a silk handkerchief. 

And laid them under the Juniper-tree : 

Kywitt ! Kywitt ! what a beautiful bird am I ! ” 

After that the bird let the gold chain fall, and it 
fell right on to the man’s neck, fitting exactly round it. 
He went in and said, See what a beautiful bird that 
is — it has given me such a splendid gold chain ! ” 

But the wife was frightened, and fell flat down on 
the floor, and her cap dropped off her head, 


384 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


Then the bird sang again — 

“ My mother, she killed me; ” 

Oh, that I were a thousand feet under the earth, 
so that I might not hear ! ” 

‘‘ My father, he ate me ; ” 

Then she fell down as if she were dead. 

“ My sister, little Margery,” 

Oh ! ” said Margery, I will go out too, and see if 
the bird will give me anything.” 

“ Gathered up all my bones, 

Tied them in a silk handkerchief,” 

And the shoes were thrown down. 

And laid them under the Juniper-tree : 

Ky witt ! Kywitt ! what a beautiful bird am I ! ” 

Then Margery was very joyful ; she put on the new 
red shoes, and danced and jumped about. Oh,” said 
she, I was so unhappy when I came out, and now I 
am so happy ! That is a wonderful bird ; he has 
given me a pair of red shoes.” 

“ For me,” cried the wife, and jumped up, and her 
hair stood on end like flames of fire, I feel as if the 
world were come to an end ; I will go out ; perhaps 
I shall feel easier.” 

But as she went out of the door — smash ! — the 
bird threw the millstone on her head, and she was 
crushed to pieces. 

The father and Margery heard it, and rushed out to 
see what had happened : there was a great flame and 
smoke rising up from the place, and when that was 
gone, there stood the little brother all alive again — 
as if he had never died. He took his father and 
Margery by the hand, and they were all three quite 
happy, and went into the house to dinner. 


CLEVER ALICE. 


385 


CLEVER ALICE. 

Once upon a time there was a man who had a 
daughter, who was called Clever Alice ; ” and when 
she was grown up her father said, We must see 
about her marrying.’’ 

Ves,” replied her mother, “ whenever a young 
man shall appear who is worthy of her.” 

At last a certain youth, by name Hans, came from 
a distance to make a proposal of marriage ; but he 
required one condition, that the Clever Alice should 
be very prudent. 

Oh,” said her father, no fear of that ! She has 
got a head full of brains ; ” and the mother added, 
^^Ah, she can see the wind blow up the street, and 
hear the flies cough ! ” 

Very well,” replied Hans ; but remeniber, if she 
is not very prudent I will not take her.” Soon after- 
wards they sat down to dinner, and her mother said, 
Alice, go down into the cellar and draw some beer.” 

So Clever Alice took the jug down from the wall, 
and went into the cellar, jerking the lid up and down 
on her way, to pass away the time. As soon as she 
got downstairs she drew a stool and placed it before 
the cask, in order that she might not have to stoop, 
for she thought stooping might in some way injure 
her back and give it an undesirable bend. Then she 
placed the can before her and turned the tap, and while 
the beer was running, as she did not wish her eyes to 
be idle, she looked about upon the wall above and below. 
Presently she perceived, after much peeping into this 
corner and that corner, a hatchet, which the brick- 
layers had left behind, sticking out of the ceiling 
right above her head. At the sight of this Clever 
Alice began to cry, saying, ^^Qh, if I marry Hans, 


386 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


and we have a child, and he grows up, and we send 
him into the cellar to draw beer, the hatchet will fall 
upon his head and kill him ; ” and so she sat there 
weeping with all her might over the impending 
misfortune. 

Meanwhile the good folks upstairs were waiting for 
the beer, but as Clever Alice did not come, her mother 
told the maid to go and see what she was stopping 
for. The maid went down into the cellar, and found 
Alice sitting before the cask crying heartily, and she 
asked, Alice, what are you weeping about ? ’’ 

Ah,’’ she replied, have I not cause ? If I 
marry Hans, and we have a child, and he grows up, 
and we send him here to draw beer, that hatchet will 
fall upon his head and kill him.” 

Oh,” said the maid, what a clever Alice we 
have ! ” And, sitting down, she began to weep too, 
for the misfortune that was to happen. 

After a while, when the servant did not return, the 
good folks above began to feel very thirsty ; so the 
husband told the boy to go down into the cellar and 
see what had become of Alice and the maid. The 
boy went down, and there sat Clever Alice and the 
maid, both crying, so he asked the reason ; and Alice 
told him the same tale, of the hatchet that was to fall 
on her child if she married Hans, and if they had a 
child. When she had finished the boy exclaimed. 

What a clever Alice we have ! ” and fell weeping 
and howling with the others. 

Upstairs they were still waiting, and the husband 
said, when the boy did not return, ‘‘ Do you go down, 
wife, into the cellar and see why Alice stays so long.” 
So she went down, and finding all three sitting there 
crying, asked the reason, and Alice told her about the 
hatchet which must inevitably fall upon the head of 
her son. Then the mother likewise exclaimed, “ Oh, 


CLEVER ALICE. 387 

what a clever Alice we have ! ’’ and sitting down, 
began to weep as much as any of the rest. 

Meanwhile the husband waited for his wife’s 
return ; but at last he felt so very thirsty that he 
said, I must go myself down into the cellar and see 
what is keeping our Alice.” As soon as he entered 
the cellar, there he found the four sitting and crying 
together, and when he heard the reason he also 
exclaimed, Oh, what a clever Alice we have ! ” 
and sat down to cry with the whole strength of his 
lungs. 

All this time the bridegroom above sat waiting, but 
when nobody returned he thought they must be wait- 
ing for him, so he went down to see what was the 
matter. When he entered, there sat the five crying 
and groaning, each one in a louder key than his 
neighbor. 

What misfortune has happened ? ” he asked. 

Ah, dear Hans ! ” cried Alice, “ if you and I 
should marry one another, and have a child, and he 
grow up, and we, perhaps, send him down to this 
cellar to tap the beer, the hatchet which has been left 
sticking up there may fall on his head, and so kill 
him ; and do you not think this is enough to weep 
about ? ” 

^^Now,” said Hans, more prudence than this is 
not necessary for my housekeeping ; because you are 
such a clever Alice, I will have you for my wife.” 
And taking her hand he led her home, and celebrated 
the wedding directly. 

After they had been married a little while, Hans 
said one morning, “ Wife, I will go out to work and 
earn some money ; do you go into the field and gather 
some corn wherewith to make bread.” 

“ Yes,” she answered, I will do so, dear Hans.” 
And when he was gone she cooked herself a nice 


888 


THE FAIRY BOOK. 


mess of pottage to take with her. As she came to 
the field she said to herself, What shall I do ? 
Shall I cut first or eat first ? Ay, I will eat first ! ” 
Then she ate up the contents of her pot, and when it 
was finished she thought to herself, ^^Now shall I 
reap first or sleep first ? Well, I think I will have a 
nap ! ’’ and so she laid herself down amongst the corn 
and went to sleep. 

Meanwhile Hans returned home, but Alice did not 
come, and so he said, Oh, what a prudent Alice I 
have ! She is so indnstrious that she does not even 
come home to eat anything.’’ By and by, however, 
evening came on, and still she did not return ; so 
Hans went out to see how much she had reaped ; but, 
behold, nothing at all, and there lay Alice fast asleep 
among the corn ! So home he ran very fast, and 
brought a net with little bells hanging on it, which he 
threw over her head while she still slept on. When he 
had done this, he went back again and shut to the 
house-door, and, seating himself on his stool, began 
working very industriously. 

At last, when it was nearly dark, the Clever Alice 
awoke, and as soon as she stood up, the net fell all over 
her hair, and the bells jingled at every step she took. 
This quite frightened her, and she began to doubt 
whether she were really Clever Alice, and said to her- 
self, Am I she or am I not ? ” This was a ques- 
tion she could not answer, and she stood still a long 
while considering about it. At last she thought she 
would go home and ask whether she were really her- 
self — supposing somebody would be able to tell her. 
When she came to the house-door it was shut ; so she 
tapped at the window, and asked, Hans, is Alice 
within ? ” Yes,” he replied, “ she is.” At which 
answer she became really terrified, and exclaiming. 

Ah, heaven, then I am not Alice ! ” she ran up to 


CLEVER ALICE. 


389 


another house, intending to ask the same question. 
But as soon as the folks within heard the jingling of 
the bells in her net, they refused to open their doors, 
and nobody would receive her. So she ran straight 
away from the village, and no one has ever seen her 
since. 


THE END. 








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